August 3, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Once-beaten Japanese middleweight champ NAOTAKA HOZUMI(right photo), 164
1/4, dug a wicked left uppercut to the belly of Indonesian #2 middle
contender WAHYU WIDODO, 161, and sank him for the count at 3:02 of the
opening canto.
Hozumi, whose sole blemish on his record had been given by the current OPBF ruler Kevin Palmer, looked too big and too powerful for the shorter Indonesian opponent.
Hozumi, who recently dethroned Nobunao Ohtani via lopsided TKO last April, raised his ledger to 13-1-1, 11 KOs. His rematch with Palmer is anticipated. Widodo fell to 20-9-2, 12 KOs.
JBC #7 super-bantam, unbeaten MOTOKAZU ABE, 126, finished Indonesian CHRIS WORITIMUR, IBC (Indonesian Boxing Commission) #3 feather, 126, at 2:08 of the third round in a semi-final 10.
Abe, 5-0-1, 4 KOs, was such a flamboyant boxer as to express his joy for his victory, as if he became a world champ, jumping and dancing in the ring for minutes. He was jeered by the crowd, which said, "Get out of the ring quickly, as we want to see a main event." The loser dipped to 21-8-4, 5 KOs.
JBC #8 super-fly KATSUSHIGE KAWASHIMA, piloted by ex-WBC & WBA 105-pound champ Hideyuki Ohashi, 118, produced a beautifully-cooked flattened pancake of Filipino ROLANDO DUSARAN, 118, with a body shot at 1:41 of the 4th round in the first 10.
Kawashima, a sturdy hard-hitter, is 13-1, 9 KOs. He may zoom up soon if he gains more flexibility in his upper-body movement.
Yonerkua Promotions.
Matchmaker for a Kwashima vs. Dusaran bout: Joe Koizumi.
(8-3-99)
August 2, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-OPBF welter champ HIROYUKI YOSHINO(right photo), 149, had a tough
time coping with a defensive counterpuncher named BERT BADO(left photo), Filipino
welter champ, 149, though he was awarded a unanimous decision over 10.
There was no doubt about the official verdict-99-94, 98-94 and 97-95, all for Yoshino, 32-7-1, 24 KOs. But the crowd expected the left hooker Yoshino to display his trade-mark and sink his rival in a fine fashion. In this regard, Yoshino betrayed people's expectations, as he hit the air more frequently than hit his opponent-with his looping left hooks. Bado fell to 8-6-3, 5 KOs.
Yoshino previously had an ambitous title crack at the WBA junior welter
throne against Juan Martin Coggi only to be finished in 5 onesided
rounds at Korakuen Hall in May, 1993. It's his mistake that he ate too
much to show his physical advantage over Coggi after the weigh-in the
day before the title bout, as proven by his slower punching and mobility
than usual.
AKEFUMI YOSHIZAKI, an expected hard-puncher, 127 1/4, absorbed too many left-right combinations by HIROYUKI KUSAKA, a shorter but more orthodox boxer, 128, losing an upset decision over 10.
Yoshizaki, 8-3, 8 KOs, was expected to show a good form prior to his scheduled main event in Kochi City in commemoration of Kuroshio Gym's 20th anniversary, but in vain. His loose defense was revealed by Kusaka's well-timed straight rights. He couldn't catch the high-guarded foe to be unable to show his vaunted power punching. Kusaka is 9-2-3, 4 KOs. Both were unranked by the JBC.
Noguchi Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-2-99)
August 6, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Former two-time world challenger YUJI WATANABE(right photo), 134, seemed
to regain his previous power punching and killer instinct in demolishing
Thai #1 ranked feather contender SIENGTHIPYA SITSYASE-I, 132 1/4, with a
single overhand right at 2:03 of the second round in a scheduled 10.
Watanabe pitifully failed to win the WBA junior light title from Genaro Hernandez and the WBA feather crown from Wilfredo Vazquez-both within the distance-in 1992 and 1997 respectively. Vazquez had his jaw fractured at a couple of places, so he had to take a long layoff for 17 months prior to making a comeback in August of last year. After two KO wins, he had a shot at the OPBF super-feather title against compatriot Kengo Nagashima only to suffer his first defeat by a countryman on a 10th round TKO last February. Since then, it was his second comeback go after 5 months since his annihilation by Nagashima, WBC #5 ranked contender, who lately renounced his OPBF 130-pound title in order to campain in the 126-pound division.
Watanabe battered his mark to 22-4, 21 KOs. His problem resulted in his defensive skill, not in his offensive ability which our aficionados appreciated very much. The Thai loser fell to 12-5, 4 KOs.
Ex-Japanese welter champ MINORU HORIUCHI(left photo), 160, opened a gash over the
left eyebrow of YASUHIDE TARUI, JBC #7 super-welter, 154, with his legal
shot to be awarded a TKO win at 1:37 of the third round of a semi-final
10 rounder due to the latter being unable to go on.
Horiuchi, currently JBC #3 middle contender, is a short but very muscular hard-puncher, who raised his ledger to 20-5, 18 KOs. Tarui dropped to 7-6-2, 7 KOs.
JBC #1 ranked light fly, unbeaten KOHKI TANAKA, 110, scored a one-punch KO over Thailand's YONGYUTH AUYUTHANAKORN, 112, with a overhand right at 2:47 of the second round in the first 10.
Tanaka, 10-0-3, 6 KOs, is gunning for a mandatory title shot at the Japanese 108-pound title against WBA #3 ranked Hidenobu Honda, but the negotiaition reportedly met a deadlock with Honda to come to Tokyo for an unreasonably high purse demanded. Tanaka may shift his target to the OPBF light fly title. This lanky ex-amateur boxer-puncher may deserve a title shot soon.
Saida Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-6-99)