EX-WBC STRAW CHAMP KIATWANCHAI STOPPED

October 21, 1999
OSAKA-JBC #5 ranked super-fly KOJI FUJIWARA, 116 3/4, stopped ex-WBC straw champ NAPA KIATWANCHAI, 116, at 1:40 of the 6th round in a scheduled 10.

Napa, who previously fought Hiroki Ioka thrice in Osaka, didn't look what he used to be, and suffered another defeat following one to Choluho Senrima in Kobe since his comeback in his pursuit of just dinero.

Fujiwara bettered his mark to 20-1, 16 KOs with his sole defeat by the current WBA super-fly champ Hideki Todaka when both were green 4-round boys. Despite his excellent credentials Fujiwara-especially his suspect chin--hasn't best tested yet.Napa impaired to 16-7-1, 8 KOs.

Green Tsuda Promotions.
(10-21-99)

Oct. 19
OSAKA-JBC #9 ranked bantam AKIHIRO KANAI, 122, decked a 4th round TKO win over JOJI NOBEYAMA, 121 3/4, at 1:41 of the 4th canto in a scheduled 10.

Kanai ran his unbeaten mark to 7-0, 6 KOs. The loser dipped to 8-7-1, 2 KOs.

Taiho Promotions.
(10-19-99)

EX-WORLD CHALLENGER TOGUCHI STOPPED IN COMEBACK FIGHT

Oct. 18
TOKYO-Ex-world challenger and ex-Japanese champ TAKATO "PUMA" TOGUCHI(right photo), 118, appeared after a 474-day layoff but miserably suffered an upset TKO defeat by unheralded MOTONARI KASHIMA, 117 1/4, at 0:21 of the third round.

Toguchi, who had fought Yuri Arbachakov in his bid for the WBC flyweight throne only to be stopped in the 9th in 1996, was once advised by the JBC to retire, but his appeal enabled him to return to the ring warfare.

Toguchi, still very popular among fight fans, was dropped by Kashima's smashing right in the opening session. He was battered to the punch, reeling from pillar to post, by the neglected underdog. The ref finally declared a halt to save the loser from further punishment. Though Toguchi still wishes his manager/promoter Keiichiro Kanehira to book him again, the son of the late Don Kanehira says that he is very much reluctant to do so.

Toguchi fell to 23-4, 19 KOs. Kashima, unranked by the JBC, bettered his mark to 7-5-5, a KO.

Super-bantam prospect Osamu Sato, 122, chalked up a TKO win over Hitoshi Nema, 121, at 1:03 of the 7th in a supporting 8.

Kyoei Promotions.
(10-18-99)

EX-OPBF LT. FLY CHAMP YAHIRO DECKS HIS COMEBACK GO

Oct. 15
TOKYO-Ex-OPBF light flyweight champ SHIRO YAHIRO(right photo), 112, made a successful comeback after his inactivity for a year and 7 months, as he outjabbed and outpunched Korean light fly boss PILKOO KANG, 112, over 10.

Yahiro, a lanky jabber, had suffered a bitter defeat in his third quest for the world diadem, being stopped by the WBC light fly kingpin Saman Sorjaturong in Yokohama in March of the previous year. Since then, his manager Akihiko Honda advised him to hang up gloves for good, but Yahiro insisted that he would continue fighting by regularly and rigorously training everyday. Yahiro didn't look very sharp, but his superior height and reach kept the Korean champ from scoring big shots.

Scored: 98-96, 98-94 and 100-93.
Yahiro bettered his mark to 24-4-2, 14 KOs. Kang dropped to 6-3, 3 KOs.

Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(10-18-99)

Oct. 15
OSAKA-Former Japanese national flyweight champ NOLITO "SUZUKI" CABATO, 114, decked a TKO win over Korean JUNGRO CHO, 114 3/4, at 2:42 of the 6th round in a scheduled 10.

Cabato, dethroned by Celes Kobayashi this year, showed his strength and raised his mark to 38-18-4, 13 KOs.

RYU MORIOKA, the son of ex-Olympic bronze medalist Eiji Morioka, 154, outscored SEISAI YOSHIDA, also 140, over 10.

Morioka is 10-1-2, 2 KOs. Yoshida fell to 10-11-4, 4 KOs.

Shinko Promotions.
(10-15-99)

RYUKO KEEPS NATIONAL SUPER-FLY TITLE

Oct. 12
TOKYO-Japanese super-fly champ KAZUHIRO RYUKO(right photo), 115, barely kept his belt on a technical draw with YOSUKE KANEISHI, 115, at 1:52 of the second round in a scheduled 10.

The lefty Ryuko floored him with a solid southpaw left in the opening session, but a collision of head happened with both steaming blood so profusely to go on.

Ryuko is 10-1-3, 2 KOs. Kaneishi is 13-6-4, 8 KOs.

The OPBF #2 ranked light fly contender, unbeaten KOKI TANAKA, 109 3/4, decked Filipino BEN ALVANEZ, 109 1/4, twice and for the count at 1:21 of the third round in a semi-final ten.

Tanaka, 11-0-3, 7 KOs, is slated to meet Filipino Lolito Laroa for the vacant OPBF 108-pound title in Tokyo on Jan. 15.

Matchmaker of Tanaka vs. Alvanez: Joe Koizumi.
Watanabe Promotions.
(10-12-99)

OPBF FEATHER CHAMP IMAOKA DETHRONED BY WEHBEE

Oct. 11
TOKYO-In a sensational and competitive bout, Australian TONY WEHBEE, 126, impressively scored a come-from-behind one-punch KO over defending champ TAKEO IMAOKA(right photo), WBC #2 ranked contender, 126, with a single short right to the button and sank him for the count at 2:35 of the 8th round to become the new OPBF featherweight champion to his credit.

Both were tall and lanky 126-pounders. They put on a good performance, exchanging sharp and solid punches. Imaoka utilized his better footwork to be leading on points-referee David Chung (Korea) and Tom Ferrauto (Australia) favoring the Japanese and Masakazu Uchida (Japan) sawing it even.

Wehbee, who kept stalking the fleet-footed champ from the start, finally caught him with a wicked right, when he pinned Imaoka to the champ's corner. Imaoka fell on the seat of his pants, but his damage was such that he couldn't beat the count.

Iamaoka fell to 23-4, 12 KOs. The WBC No.10 ranked Wehbee, 26-5-1, 19 KOs, will jump in the WBC ratings thanks to this significant victory.

Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
Saida Promotions.
(10-11-99)

KOSHIMOTO FINISHES KOREAN CHO

Oct. 10
MUNAKATA-Japanese feather boss TAKASHI KOSHIMOTO(right photo), 127, sank Korean SUKHWI CHO, 127 1/2, with strong body shots at 2:10 of the 4th round in a scheduled 10.

The tall lefty Koshimoto, 23-0-2, 13 KOs, is the promoter' son with his father preparing to promote his shot at the WBA feather throne against Freddie Norwood, but the negotiaition came to naught. Cho dipped to 16-10-3, 14 KOs.

Unbeaten DAINOSHIN KUMA, 131 3/4, JBC #8 ranked feather, pounded out a lopsided decision over Korean CHONGYUL SON, 131 1/2, over 10.

Kuma is 12-0, 5 KOs. Son, KBC #7 ranked feather, dropped to 11-3-3, 5 KOs.

Fukuma Sports Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(10-10-99)

Oct. 9
NUMAZU-Ex-WBC international champ ROCKY PALMA, fighting under the new Japanese ring name of Rocky Ishikawa, 108, failed to deck his debut here, as he was dropped and was held to a draw by TAKAHIKO MIZUNO, 108, over 10. Mizuno is 10-3-1, 4 KOs.

Ex-world challenger and ex-national champ KIMIO HIRANO, 114 1/2, made a successful comeback by unanimously outscoring Filipino RONNIE CANETE, 114, over 8.

Masahiro Teraoka, 134 3/4, decisioned Filipino Vic Galme, 132 1/4, over 6.

Hiraiwa Promotions.
(10-9-99)

Oct. 7
OSAKA-Unranked SHIGEYUKI OHNO, 140, scored an upset TKO win over JBC No.4 ranked KIYOSHI ADACHI, 139, at 2:49 of the 5th round in a scheduled 10.

Adachi, a rugged hard-puncher, fell to 16-5-1, 10 KOs. Ohno bettered his mark to 16-6-1, 8 KOs.
(10-7-99)

SONG KEEPS OPBF SUPER-WELTER TITLE

Oct. 4
HIROSHIMA-The OPBF super-welter champ KOOKYUL SONG(right photo), 154, retained his regional title, as he effectively battered less experienced HIROKI TOMI, 152 1/4, and finally halted him at 2:48 of the 11th round.

Tomi fought well by exclusivly aiming at the breadbasket of the champ, who, however, piled up points with his combinations. Referee Ukrid Sarasas, Thailand, declared a halt as Song battered the fading foe with a flurry of punches.

Scored before the stoppage: Sarasas 99-94, Kazumasa Kuwata (Japan) 97-95, Jaekeun Kim (Korea) 98-94, all for Song.

Song is 18-2-1, 14 KOs. Tomi dropped to 15-5-1, 7 KOs.

Sankyo Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(10-4-99)

Oct. 3
OKAYAMA-Having been stopped by Wandee Cho Chareon in a bid for the WBC 105-pound belt here last May, ex-OPBF minimum champ WOLF TOKIMITSU, 108, engaged in a comeback go, but it resulted in a tough battle, though winning on points over Indonesian AGUS RAY, 106, over 10.

It was a more competitive bout than expected, and Ray dominated the final session by having him at bay.

Tokimitsu, WBC #8 ranked 105-pounder, is 14-3, 7 KOs.

Unbeaten KAZUNORI FUJITA, 131 3/4, JBC #8 ranked super-feather, extended his unblemished mark to 10-0, 7 KOs by stopping HIROSHI MAE, 132, at 2:59 of the 4th round in a scheduled 10. The loser is 7-6, 4 KOs.

SHINICHI KOMATSU, 126, scored a TKO win over Inodneisan #1 ranked super-bantam FRANGKY MAMUAYA, 123 1/4, at 2:03 of the 9th round to run his mark to 12-1, 10 KOs.

DRAGON HIDEKI, 134 1/4, halted AKIRA FURUMI, 134 1/4, at 1:36 of the 10th and final round. The winner is 13-5-1, 7 KOs. The loser fell to 7-5-3, 4 KOs.

Kurashiki Moriyasu Promotions.
(10-3-99)

Oct. 3
TSUKUBA-JBC #3 ranked bantam EIICHI OGATA, 120 1/4, decked a fine victory before his local aficionados by finishing Filipino ALLAN MORRE, 120 1/4, at 2:19 of the 5th round in a scheduled 10.

Yamaguchi Promotions.
(10-3-99)

WBA #11 RANKED FEATHER NAGASHIMA WINS OVER KOREAN CHAMP SUNG

Oct. 2
TOKYO-Former OPBF super-feather champ KENGO NAGASHIMA(right photo), 128, appeared in his first bout since he renounced his OPBF title, and earned a unanimous decision over Korean feather boss YANGSOO SUNG, 128, over 10.

Nagashima, who decided to campain in the feather division from now on, improved his mark to 15-1-1, 9 KOs.

Ex-Japanese middle champ NOBUNAO OHTANI, 157, registered a fine KO win over Korean SOONBAE PARK, 158, at 0:34 of the third round.

Ohtani, who forfeited his national throne at the hand of the current champ Naotaka Hozumi, is 14-3, 11 KOs.

Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(10-2-99)