August 9, 1999
OSAKA, JAPAN-Former Japanese super-welter champ and WBC #11 and WBA #13
ranked AKIRA OHIGASHI, 160, lifted a vicious right uppercut and sank
Filipino FLORENCE GALICIA, 155, for the count at 2:09 of the second
round in a scheduled 10.
Ohigashi, who entered the world ratings thanks to his upset KO win over the current OPBF champ Kookyul Song last April, had retained his Japanese national 154-pound title, but lately renounced it in preparation for his anticipated title shot at the WBC super-welter throne against Javier Castillejo or the WBA champ David Reid.
The Japanese stout-built banger scored 13 wins with a couple of draws in his last 15 outings. Ohigashi, 29, bettered his mark to 29-7-2, 19 KOs. Galicia reportedly fell to 7-19-2, 3 KOs.
Unbeaten prospect NORIAKI NAKA, JBC #5 ranked bantie, 117 3/4, stretched his mark to 9-0, 8 KOs by scoring a TKO victory of a Japanese-based Mexican TAT TORRES, a cousin of ex-WBC light fly champ German Torres, 118, at 1:44 of the 8th round in a semi-final 10.
Naka is a bright prospect in Amagasaki (near the second biggest city in Japan, Osaka), having won this year's All Japan Novice King tourney to impress the crowd in Tokyo. He is stylish, and can punch.
YOSUKE KANEISHI, JBC #2 ranked super-fly, dropped Filipino DODONG SORDILLA three times to score an automatic KO win at 1:15 of the third round in a scheduled 8. Kaneishi is 13-6-3, 8 KOs. Sordilla reportedly fell to 5-7, 2 KOs.
Taiho Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(8-9-99)