August 9, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-JBC #3 ranked featherweight KAZU ARISAWA(right photo), 127 1/2, avenged his previous KO defeat and pounded out a unanimous decision over TOSHIHARA SAOTOME, JBC #6 ranked feather, 127, over 10.
August 9, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-JBC #3 ranked featherweight KAZU ARISAWA(right photo), 127 1/2, avenged
his previous KO defeat and pounded out a unanimous decision over
TOSHIHARA SAOTOME, JBC #6 ranked feather, 127, over 10.
Kazu is the elder brother of the tremendously popular Arisawa twins with Koji being the Japanese national super-feather champ gunning for a shot at the WBA super-feather crown against Mongolian Lakva Sim next spring.
Prior to their entries into the paid ranks, Kazu was regarded as a better prospect than Koji due to the former's amateur credentials of having won the All Japan high school championship. On the contrary, Koji had no amateur career, but turned pro earlier than Kazu. Both are picturesque young men-a la De La Hoya-attrscting great many female aficionados.
Their father is Shigenori Arisawa, who had a record of 5 consecutive first round KO wins including a 13-second KO of Koichi Hara in 1966. He is now the trainer of the twins, while their grandfather is the owner of Soka Arisawa Gym. They are like a Chris Byrd's family.
In March, 1998, the twins fought on the same card in Tokyo. The national champ Koji battled a main event with future WBA champ Takanori Hatakeyama only to be dethroned on a 9th round TKO. In the semi-final, Kazu was also finished by unheralded Toshiharu Saotome on an upset 7th round KO.
Since then, Koji regained the national 130-pound title by decisioning Panther Yanagida last December. But Kazu went on a shaky comeback trail despite scoring three KO wins in a row over Filipinos Wito Wayan, Tony Bernales and Dodong Basalo. He might have lost something named "confidence" since his KO losses to Rick Yoshimura for the national light throne in 1997 and to Saotome.
Though it wasn't a title bout, this card gathered a good crowd that expected this sensational rematch. But it resulted in a very boring fight, as Kazu paid too much respect to Saotome's mediocre counterpunching, circling and jabbing all night except in the the two rounds. Saotome almost stunned him with a countering right in the second, but he was unable to catch the elusive opponent.
Scored-Fukuchi (the son of ex-Oriental welter champ Kenji Fukuchi) 98-95, Sarasas 99-94 and Asao 99-93, all for Kazu. This official verdict, exactly the bigger difference on points than expected, was jeered by the crowd.
Kazu is 17-2-1, 13 KOs. Saotome dropped to 16-8-1, 6 KOs.
The Arisawa twins are looking forward to being national champs in different divisions at the same time. It's up to Kazu's determination and future progress.
We hear not a few miserable stories of former world champs after their retirements-being drug addicts, penniless existences, etc. But Japan, which produced 36 world champs so far, seldom see such pitiful examples of ex-world titlists. Why? It is because our champs usually remain in the boxing world, being managers or promoters to receive good respects in the fistic fraternity. Former 3-time world junior middleweight champ Koichi Wajima is a popular TV commentator of a monthly boxing program shown by Fuji TV, and manages his gym in Nishi-Ogikubo, Tokyo.
Wajima's latest prospect, JBC #4 ranked lightie, unbeaten HIRONARI OHSHIMA, 135, had a very tough time eking out a hairline majority decision over HARUHIKO NAKANE, 134 1/2, to extend his winning streak to 10-0, 6 KOs over 10.
Ohshima, the winner of the last All Japan Novice King tournament, ignored the theory of throwing jabs to utilize his superior height and reach, slugged it out with the game and energetic opponent and absorbed considerable punishment. But Ohshima, with tattoos around his upper body, desperately went forward to score with solid left uppercuts to the belly that eventually carried him to a slight edge.
Scored-97-95 twice, and 96-96. Nakane sagged to 8-5-3, 5 KOs.
Unbeaten YOSHITERU OKAZAKI, 129 1/2, handled by Masahiko "Fighting" Harada, ran his unblemished mark to 5-0, as many KOs, scored a quick KO win over a Filipino named RAMIL SEBUCO, 123 1/2, at 2:13 of the opening canto in a scheduled 8.
Soka Arisawa Promotions.
(8-9-99)