August 7, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-rising WBC #11 ranked bantam and Japanese champ
TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA(right photo), 120, dropped Thai champ YODSINGH CHUWATANA, 119 1/4,
with a smashing right hook and his furious follow-up prompted the
referee to intervene at 1:13 of the 4th round in a scheduled 10.
It's an encounter of Japanese and Thai 118-pound champs, both of whom were lefties. But the taller Nishioka was a harder hitter than the previously unbeaten Thailander, dominating the first three rounds.
Yodsingh, who had experienced some 95 Muay-thai bouts prior to his entry into the traditional style fighting, occcasionally landed good right jabs and right uppercuts to the belly, though losing points.
In the fatal 4th, Nishioka exploded a wicked southpaw right hook to send
him to deck. Yodsingh beat the count, but Nishioka swarmed over him,
pinning him to the ropes with a fusillade of punches. Ref Kazunobu Asao
made a well-received halt to save the loser.
Nishioka bettered his mark to 18-2-1, 11 KOs. He registered 6 KO wins in last 7 victories. He lately improved his punching power, but is still stiff and a bit too straightforward. What he needs is more fluidity in his punching and mobility. This southpaw hard-hitter, who can really hit hard as a 118-pounder, is willing to have a world title shot, which will materialize early next year with the help of influential impresario Akihiko Honda. Yodsingh dropped to 8-1, 4 KOs, tasting his first defeat.
JBC #2 ranked feather TOSHIKAGE KIMURA(left photo), 125, finally caught unorthodox
and tricky TAKA BANDO, 125 1/4, with a solid left-right combo and halted
him at 2:03 of the 8th and final session.
Kimura, managed by Honda, previously had a crack at the Japanese feather throne against Takashi Koshimoto, an elongated lefty, at the champ's home turf only to be stopped in the 9th despite having pressed the action in Aug. of the previous year. Kimura, 18-2-4, 8 KOs, is a very stylish outboxer, but lacks convincing power. Bando sagged to 7-7-2, 6 KOs.
This semi-final was originally scheduled to be a 10-rounder, but the JBC refused to allow them to fight in 10 rounds because of Bando's inferior credentials, so it was abbreviated to an 8-rounder. This reporter heard that there had been some severe discussions between the JBC and the promoter, Honda.
Honda's pet boy SHINTARO FUKUSHIMA, 125 1/4, whose mark before this bout was 8-1, 7 KOs, surprisingly dropped a unanimous nod to unheralded and neglected YUICHI OGAWA, a lanky and negative counterpuncher, 125 3/4, over 6. The upset victor Ogawa is now 10-11-2, 3 KOs.
Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-7-99)