December 17, 1999
TOKYO-Lanky speedster, WBA #3 ranked RICK "YOSHIMURA" ROBERTS(right photo), a New
Yorker residing here as military worker, 134 1/4, tied the record of
most defenses in retaining the Japanese title, as he kept his national
lightweight title for the 20th time by defeating Japan's top contender
TAKEHIRO SHIMADA, 134 1/4, on a unanimous decision over 10.
It's a lousy fight, each repeating clinching and holding. Rick attempted to outjab his opponent, as usual, but the Japanese covered himself up like a shell and concentrated on averting the champ's left hand. Most of the Alexis Arguello stylist's punches were blocked by Shimada, who, however, seldom threw punches.
Shimada shook up the taller champ with a left-right combo in the 8th, which was his first and last he dominated.
Scored: Fukuchi 99-95, Date 99-97, and Ukrid Sarasas 98-96, all for Rick, 35-5-1, 20 KOs, including a couple of losses in his first two losses in New York. Shimada dropped to 6-2, 3 KOs. Referee was Ken Morita.
Though Rick, 34, may be declining and slowing down, he seems still unmatched against Japanese 135-lbs. boys. Now that he tied the Japanese record of 20 defenses in a row with that registered by ex-national super-welter champ Hitoshi Kamiyama, we may most probably see Rick beat the record in his next defense, whoever be the challenger.
JBC #7 ranked super-fly TAKUYA KIYA(left photo), 115, easily sank Thailander SANN
SITSYANARUEPHONDH, TBC's #7 ranked bantam, 115, with a single body shot
to the lever at 0:54 of the third round in a scheduled 10.
Kiya, previously rated by the WBA thanks to his decision over Randy Mangbat, proved faster and more powerful than the mediocre Thai boy.
Kiya is 15-3-1, 11 KOs. The Thailander reportedly fell to 8-5, 3 KOs.
In a first ten, RYUJI MURAMATSU, 112, struggled to revenge his previous defeat by a first round stoppage and earned a unanimous decision over KATSUYUKI KAWAKAMI, 112, over 10.
They mixed up so furiously as to make the other groggy and have the tide turn very busily in the first half. But Kawakami showed his fatigue in later rounds, losing points in the second half.
Scored: 98-95, 98-92 and 97-93, all for Muramatsu, 19-6, 9 KOs. But his previous sharpness in punching was lost, and he looked like a mediocre puncher. Kawakami dropped to 10-3-1, 6 KOs. There may be a rubber match between the give-and-take battlers.
Ishikawa Promotions.
(12-17-99)
PS All other important results in Nov. and Dec. will be reported after
this reporter returns to Tokyo on Tuesday. Thanking for record-keepers'
patience. He is a perfectionist, so he will report all, as he promises.
Good night.