Orient Report

by Joe Koizumi

JAPANESE JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
AKIRA OHIGASHI W10 TAKENORI SAKAGUCHI

JAPANESE JR. FLYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
HIDENOBU HONDA W10 RYO KURUSHIMA

May 13, 1998 OSAKA--Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium--Rugged puncher AKIRA OHIGASHI, 153 1/2, kept his national junior middleweight title for the 7th time, as he decisioned TAKENORI SAKAGUCHI, 153 1/4, over 10. Ohigashi is a fighting champ, having defended his title busily since his coronation via a 4th-round KO victory over Biney Martin in Dec., 1996. Ohigashi bettered his mark to 24-7-2, 16 KOs. Sakaguchi fell to 6-1, 2 KOs.

Remarks: Previously this reporter spelled ex-Japanese middle and jr. middle champ Vinny Martin, but his real name (correct spelling) turned out to be BINEY Martin, so his name shall be written as Biney. Sorry to bother you, my friends/record-collectors.

Tricky lefty footworker HIDENOBU HONDA, 108, defeated another southpaw RYO KURUSHIMA, 107 3/4, by a lopsided verdict to retain his national junior flyweight title over 10. Honda is 15-1, 8 KOs. He is an elongated youngster who usually moves trickily side-to-side, tends to abruptly hit his opponent and move away. Kurushima, who was stopped by WBA #1 ranked contender Joma Gamboa in his previous bout, is 7-6-3, 5 KOs.

Ex-WBA junior fly champ KEIJI YAMAGUCHI, 117, needed just 3:08 of the opening session to demolish Filipino VICENTE ADRALES, 117 1/4, in a scheduled 10. Yamaguchi, 23-3, 9 KOs, had an unsuccesful shot at the WBA fly crown against Jose Bonilla only to be stopped in 6 give-and-take rounds in Osaka last Nov.
(5-13-98)

RESULTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Joaquin Henson wrote:

April 4. Digos, Davao del Sur. Promoter: Wilfredo Neri. Jerry Quinones, 129, scored a majority l2-round decision over Jonathan Albay, 130, to retain the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) junior lightweight title. In other tenners, Rio Sumampong, 112, stopped Rush Raymunda, 112, in the second round and Van Boy Sumugat, 122, halted Ramil Austria, 122, in the seventh.

April 4. Elorde Sports Center, Sucat, Paranaque. Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr. Oriental junior featherweight king Reynante Jamili, 120 l/2, disposed of Lito Wayan, 125, at 2:24 of the fifth round in a non-title tenner. Referee Danny Rodenas stepped in to save Wayan from further punishment. In supporting bouts, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental bantamweight champion Dondon Concepcion, 120 l/2, halted Raul Cabato, 119, at O:24 of the sixth and Gary Garay, 130 l/2, blasted Arnold Jaspe, l30 l/2, into submission at 2:03 of the fourth.

April 5. Davao City. Promoter: Vic Adriano. Buddy Carl (Tyson) Ledama, a stocky brawler, stopped Zaldy (Apache) Jusay, 118, in the second round of a tenner.

April 18. Elorde Sports Center, Sucat, Paranaque. Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr. Philippine junior featherweight champion Arman Molina, 126, pounded out a unanimous l0-round decision over Ronald Linsagan, l25 l/2, in a non-title fight. World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 3 strawweight Carmelo Caceres, 109, also scored a unanimous 10-round verdict over Marlon Gayundato, 110. Speedy Balus, l23 l/4, beat Ricarte Cainiela, 124, via a majority eight-round decision.

April 18. Mandaluyong Sports Complex. Promoter: Rodolfo Nazario. Philippine No. 8 junior bantamweight Rodel Llanita, 114 l/2, survived a sixth round knockdown and a cut over the right eye to escape with a split 10-round draw with No. 9 flyweight Rolando Igot, 114. The draw stopped Llanita's streak of six straight wins, all by knockout. Igot, 23, frustrated Llanita with his defensive tactics and made the unbeaten prospect miss. Llanita couldn't put his punches together. Judge Ramon Flores, son of the first Filipino world title challenger ever (Elino Flores who lost to Johnny Dundee in a world junior lightweight title match in New York on Feb. 2, l923), scored it 97-93 for Llanita. Judge Pascual Ingusan had it 95-94 for Igot. Judge Vicente Rodriguez saw it 95-all. In other tenners, Ric Evasco, 116, halted Reglo Mangubat, 120, at 2:18 of the second, Flash Morillo, 107, scored a split decision over Lolito Laroa, 107 1/2, and Kid Orais, 108, halted Rogelio Mananquil, 107, in the sixth round.

April 19. Davao City. Promoter: Vic Adriano. Leo Ramirez, 112, hammered out a unanimous 10-round decision over Ariel Austria, 116.

April 25. Salug, Zamboanga del Norte. Promoter: Maclien Espanola. Rowel Mangan, 108, halted Boboy Refamonte, 108, at l:34 of the first round in a scheduled sixer. Nonoy Timtim, 118, posted a unanimous four-round decision over Marvin Dimaclid, 121.

April 25. Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City. Promoter: Rex (Wakee) Salud. WBC superflyweight champion Gerry Penalosa, 115, battled No. l contender Joel Luna Zarate, 113 l/2, of Mexico to a second round technical draw. Zarate opened a nasty cut over Penalosa's right eye and referee Richard Steele ruled it an accidental headbutt. Ringside physician Dr. Nasser Cruz declared Penalosa unfit to continue. In companion tenners, Andy Tabanas, 108 l/2, scored a seventh round technical decision over former International Boxing Federation (IBF) miniflyweight titleholder Manny Melchor, 108 l/2, Philippine middleweight champion Ernie Alesna, 155, pounded out a unanimous decision over Marlon Chinilla, 157 l/2, Jeffrey Onate, 125, stopped Andy Alagenio, 125, at 2:54 of the second, and veteran Ernesto Rubillar, Jr. knocked out Luisito Espinosa's younger brother Melchor at l:49 of the first. President Ramos was at ringside to witness the action. In the mainer, the judges were Dick Flaherty, Chuck Williams, and Jae Bong Kim.

April 25. Jimenez, Misamis Occidental. Promoter: Sancho Oaminal. Ramil Anito, 112, halted Julito (Jun) Luma, 112, at 2:35 of the fourth in a scheduled tenner.

April 26. Davao City. Promoter: Vic Adriano. Buddy Carl (Tyson) Ledama, 118, halted Mario Parcon, 118, in the fourth round of a scheduled tenner. Parcon turned his back on Ledama under fire and surrendered. Ledama's style is reminiscent of former World Boxing Federation (WBF) miniflyweight Ronnie Magramo. Both are short, muscular and powerful. Fans are reminded of Dommy Ursua, the Toy Bulldog who was a fan favorite in the l950s, when Ledama and Magramo display their wares in the ring.

April 29. Floridablanca, Pampanga. Promoter: Rodolfo Nazario. Former Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) miniflyweight chanmpion Randy Mangubat, 108 l/2, scored a fifth round technical decision over Eugene Gonzales, 108. Joel Gonzales, l3l l/2, knocked out Nonoy Gonzales, 131 l/2, in the second round. Joebar Damosmog, 123, halted Ronald Dusaran, 123, at l:57 of the first. Golden Boy, l25 l/2, beat Rocky Balboa, 125 l/2, via a fourth round technical decision.

April 29. Davao City. Promoter: Vic Adriano. Jun Magsipoc, 115, stopped Ver Parcon, 118, in the third of a scheduled tenner.

April 30. Almendras Gym, Davao City. Promoter: Concepcion Partulan. Michael Partulan, 120, stopped Edgar Lira, 120, in the second round of a scheduled tenner. Renato Moreno, 125, halted veteran Fernando Baja, 125, in the third canto. Rio Sumampong, 110, disposed of Jun Ebali, 110, in the seventh.

May 1. Las Pinas. Promoter: Victor Obero. Rudy Idano, 113 l/2, hammered out a unanimous 10-round decision over Al Pong Navaja, 114. Ben Albanez, 105, scored a unanimous eight-round verdict over Julio Agalatiw, 105.

May 2. Panaon Municipal Gym, Misamis Occidental. Promoter: Sancho Oaminal. Rocky Rogers, 112, and Emer Barrientos, 112, fought to a split l0-round draw. Robert Malinis, 112, and Jojo Unabia, 112, battled to a majority eight-round draw. Rex Marzan, 120, beat Bert Andales, 120, on a fourth round technical decision.

May 2. Elorde Sports Complex. Sucat, Paranaque. Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr. Top-ranked contender Jerry Quinones, 129 1/2, stopped Lauro Wilton, 130, at l:46 of the second stanza to wrest the Philippine junior lightweight crown in a scheduled l2-round bout. Quinones also holds the Philippine Boxing Federation l30-pound title. The Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the government agency that supervises professional sports in the Philippines, releases monthly official ratings which are national in scope. The PBF's ratings are considered secondary to the GAB's. In a companion tenner, Juanito Rubillar, 109 l/2, flattened Roger de la Cruz, 110, at O:48 of the eighth.

May 9. Elorde Sports Complex, Sucat, Paranaque. Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr. Lolito Laroa, 108 l/2, scored a major upset as he eked out a majority 10-round decision over reigning World Boxing Council International strawweight champion Rocky Palma, 108 l/2, in a non-title fight. Laroa raised his record to 13-l9-3, with three knockouts. In other bouts, former Oriental junior lightweight king Eder (Tiger Ari) Olivetti halted Jun Aguilan, 131, at l:40 of the second and Roy Clave, 108 l/2, stopped Anthony Villamor, 108 l/2, at 2:42 of the sixth.