Orient Report

by Joe Koizumi

SENRIMA UPSETS COMEBACKING THANOMSAK BY 4TH ROUND TKO

TETSUTORA SENRIMA TKO3 THANOMSAK SITHBOABAY Aug. 9 KOBE--Kobe Industrial Trade Exhibition Hall--Upcoming Japanese-based Korean, JBC #5 ranked super-bantam CHULHO KANG (who changed his ring name to TETSUTORA SENRIMA from this bout), 126, decked an important victory over a comebacking Thailander THANOMSAK SITHBOABAY, 125 3/4, as he outhustled the Thailander and dropped him with a vicious straight right to prompt the referee's intervention at 2:55 of the 4th in a scheduled 10. Senrima raised his mark to 14-3-3, 8 KOs. Thanomsak fell to 56-6, 33 KOs.

Thanomsak previously fought in a quest for the world title thrice against Luisito Espinosa and Katsuya Onizuka (twice). After his defeat by Sirimongkil Nakorntorn-Parkview in May, 1996, however, he had been inactive. His layoff for more than two years paid off.

Lefty hard-puncher HIROAKI FUKUMOTO, 125 1/4, battered Filipino southpaw EDWIN CASANO, 125 1/2, at 0:32 into the 2nd of a semi-final 10.

Veteran left hooker NOBORU HIRASE, JBC #10 feather, 125 3/4, finally caught JBC #3 ranked lightie KENICHI TANIGAWA, 125 1/4, and demolished him at 2:26 of the 10th and final session.

AKIRA EBISUOKA, 122, chalked up a TKO win over Thailander AMUNASAK SOR CHITALADA, 122 1/2, at 1:46 of the 9th.

TAKESHI MATSUMOTO, 131 1/2, was also a TKO victor over Thailand's VICHA CHITALADA, 131 1/4, at 1:59 of the 5th round in the first 10.
Promoter: Senrima Promotions.
(8-9-98)

ELIO ORTIZ DECKS JAPANESE DEBUT BY 2ND ROUND TKO

Aug. 1, 1998 TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--WBA #8 ranked super-light contender ELIO ORTIZ, 142 1/4, Venezuela, showed his physical strength and power punching in disposing of Japanese lefty JOYA KAWAI, JBC #3 super-welter, 141 1/2, at 1:22 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10.

Ortiz, WBA Bolivian champ, applied the pressure on the taller but vulnerable Japanese from the start. Ortiz swarmed over Kawai and landed a wicked right at the buttom, dropping him on all the four. A towel was fluttering in from the loser's corner. Ortiz looked just too strong for the less experienced Kawai, who fell to 6-2, 3 KOs. Ortiz, 3 years his junior at 24, raised his mark to 17-1, 13 KOs.

A semi-final 10 saw JBC #5 ranked super-fly EIICHI ODAKA, 116 1/2, eked out a close but unanimous decision over TAKASHI YAHARA, JBC #3 super-fly at 116 1/2.

Odaka, despite bleeding constantly, kept aggressive and overwhelmed him despite good absorption of Yahara's powder-puff shots. Odaka is 20-3, 12 KOs. Yahara, more stylish but less powerful, dropped to 12-6, just a KO. Promoter: Yamani Enterprises in association with Teiken Promotions. (8-1-98)

Aug. 4 TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--JBC #1 ranked middle NAOTAKA HOZUMI, 160, dropped Korean KWANGBOK CHOI, KBC #5 super-welter, 160, with a solid left hook to finish him for the count at 2:09 of the 2nd round in a scheduled 10. Hozumi utilized his physical advantage and overwhelmed the nervous Korean. Hozumi is 10-1, 9 KOs. Choi fell to 2-6-1, a KO.

In a semi-final, JBC #3 welter TERUO NAGASE, 146 3/4, battered KBC #7 welter CHONGSOON LEE, 147, to the punch to prompt the referee's intervention at 2:55 in the 3rd of a scheduled 10.

Nagase, a stout-built banger, is 14-5, 9 KOs. Lee dropped to 2-6-2, 2 KOs.
Promoter: Yonekura Promotions.
(8-4-98)

ONO KEEPS JAPANESE SUPER-LIGHT TITLE ON 8TH ROUND TKO OVER KUWATA

JAPANESE SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
JUNICHI ONO TKO8 YOSHIHIRO KUWATA

Aug. 7, 1998 TOKYO--Korakuen Hall--Slick-punching speedster JUNICHI ONO, 140, floored ex-champ YOSHIHIRO KUWATA (previously fighting as Hiromu Kuwata), also 140, with a stunning right in the opening session, withstood his retaliations in the 5th through 7th, and finally halted him at 2:02 of the 8th round in a scheduled 10.

Ono, 21, raised his credentials to 15-1-2, 6 KOs. Kuwata, 32, formerly world rated, dropped to 23-5-2, 16 KOs.

Kuwata had lost his national 140-pound title in his 11th defense, being stopped by a hard-hitting lefty Hisao Arai in Oct., 1996. Ono failed to win the title from Arai in his first attempt in Osaka, losing a close verdict in Apr. of the previous year. But Ono decked his second crack at the title against Arai, winning a unanimous nod in Sendai this year.

In his first defense, Ono proved too fast and sharp for the ex-champ as he scored a knockdown with a smashing right in the first. Though Ono was in command in the first 4 rounds, Kuwata came out fighting and dominated three rounds from the 5th. Though the tide looked to have turned, Ono furiously attacked the veteran and had him rubbery-legged so badly that the third man declared a halt.

Ono had better improve his defensive skill in addition to gaining more power.
Promoter: Shin Nihon Kimura Promotions.

LATEST RESULTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

June 27. Almendras Gym, Davao City. Promoter: Concepcion Partolan. Ariel Austria, 117, stopped Michael Partolan, 118, in the fifth round of a scheduled l2-round bout to retain the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) bantamweight title. Leo Ramirez, 108, and Rio Sumampong, 108, fought to a majority l2-round draw. Ramirez kept his PBF junior flyweight crown. Bobong Baylon, 108, beat Aquilino Josol, 107, via a majority 10-round decision. Roberto Moreno, ll7 l/2, defeated Mar Buntan, 118 l/2, by a unanimous 10-round decision. Sugar Rey Mike, 119, halted Ating Mancao, 119, in the sixth round of a scheduled tenner.

July 8. Paredes Sports Center, Sampaloc, Manila. Promoter: Rod Nazario. Ric Ramirez, 127 l/2, and Noel (The Hammer) Panescoro, 129, fought to a split fourth round technical draw. Panescoro suffered a cut over the eye due to an accidental headbutt and the ringside physician ruled him unfit to continue. It went to the scorecards and a split draw was announced. Panescoro dominated the early action but Ramirez started to find his range starting the third stanza. Panescoro looked like he was on the way down when the fight was stopped. It was a grudge rematch. Last year, Ramirez stopped Panescoro in the eighth round. Ramirez, 24, is now 22-18-2, with eight KOs. Panescoro, a long-armed fighter with a 69-inch wingspan, is 10-5-4, with six KOs. In another tenner, stocky Bert (The Cannon) Cano, 114, bullied his way to a unanimous 10-round decision over veteran Al Pong Navaja, 114. Cano bucked a pair of one-point deductions for accidental headbutts to win easily over the outgunned Navaja whose record dropped to 21-37-7. Cano, 22, raised his mark to l6-4-3, with five KOs. Cano is Oriental flyweight champion Manny Pacquiao's stablemate. In an eight-rounder, Rolando Pritos, 129, battled Jobar Damosmog, 124 l/2, to a majority draw. Damosmog was deducted a point for excessive holding. Marlon Limpiado, 118 l/2, stopped Gabriel Calapiao, 117, at 0:53 of the fourth in a scheduled sixer.

July 15. Elorde Sports Center, Sucat, Paranaque. Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr. Cagey stylist Eder (Tiger Ari) Olivetti scored a masterful unanimous l2-round decision over a bloodied Jerry Quinones to wrest the Philippine junior lightweight diadem. Olivetti, 129, kept the hard-hitting Quinones, 128, at bay with his jab-straight combinations. The win raised Olivetti's record to 48-5-2, with l8 KOs. Olivetti, 31, hasn't lost since bowing to ex-champ Samart Payakaroon in Thailand in January 1994. Roger De Rama, 125, stopped Brutos Gastador, 122, at 2:48 of the sixth in a tenner. Lolito Laroa, 110 l/2, scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Mark Sales, 109.

July 18. Mandaluyong Sports Complex, Mandaluyong City. Promoter: Rod Nazario. Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) miniflyweight champion Manny Melchor, 107, battled Jose Clasida, 107, to a split 10-round draw. Judge Alex Villacampa scored it 94-all. Cris Odulio had it 97-9l for Clasida and Vic Rodriguez, 97-92 for Melchor. There were three one-point deductions slapped on Melchor for accidental headbutts that resulted in cuts on Clasida's face. Without the deductions, Melchor would have won by a split decision. Melchor, 30, is now 30-29-6, with six KOs. Clasida, who has lost only twice in his last l4 fights, is 13-4-2, with four KOs. Melchor was the aggressor throughout the fight but Clasida scored the more telling blows. Melchor, managed by Australian Mick O'Brien, lacked the power to hurt Clasida who never backed down. Clasida wound up with a huge welt under his left eye. In a companion tenner, underdog Joel Avila, 116, dealt former amateur star Rodel Llanita, 116, his first pro defeat via a unanimous decision. Llanita, 23, looked to finish off Avila with a single punch and never found the opening. Avila surprised Llanita with a right straight to the temple late in the first round for the only knockdown in the bout. Llanita had a ugly lump on his forehead at the end of the match. Llanita started his pro career like a house on fire, racing to six wins in a row, all by knockout. Then his glass jaw began to betray him. He survived a knockdown to hold Rolando Igot to a draw in his seventh outing, again dropped to the canvas in battling Joven Jorda to a first round technical draw, and fell once more in losing to Avila. Llanita's record is now 6-l-2, with six KOs. Avila improved his mark to 13-5, with four KOs. Llanita needs to be more patient in the ring and develop a jab to set up his killer left cross. In other tenners, Flash Murillo, 110, halted Ramil Anito, 111 l/2, at 2:14 of the third and Juanito Rubillar, 112, scored a split decision over Rogelio Mananquil, 109 l/2, despite two one-point deductions for low blows. Referee Bruce McTavish, fresh from working the forgettable Joe Bugner-James (Bonecrusher) Smith heavyweight fight in Melbourne, stepped in to save Anito from a merciless beating by Murillo. Anito never went down but was clearly defenseless when McTavish called it a night.

-- Joe Koizumi
japjoe@t3.rim.or.jp
If you wish to refer to my previous reports, please access to:
http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm


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