January 8, 2000
TOKYO, JAPAN-In the first card in Japan in the new Millennium, WBA #13
ranked lightie HIROYUKI SAKAMOTO, 140, pounded out a shutout decision
over HEUKJIN KWON, Korean #4 ranked super-lighite, 139 1/4, over 10.
It's a very losided affair. The crowd felt that it was a matter of time
for Sakamoto to finish him, but the Korean showed his incredible
durability and resilience and refused to go down until the end.
Scored: double 100-93 and 100-91, all for Sakamoto, 35-3, 25 KOs.
Kwon fell to 5-4, 4 KOs.
After the bout, in the dressing room, Akihiko Honda, very influential
promoter of Teiken Promotions, announced that he would stage Sakamoto's
crack at the WBA light crown against Venezuelan Gilberto Serrano at
Kuramae Sumo Arena in Tokyo on Mar. 12. Serrano, 18-4-2, 15 KOs,
dethroned Italian Stefano Zoff via 10th round TKO in Las Vegas last Nov.
14. For the Venezuelan jabber, it will be his first defense.
UNDERCARD:
Hard-hitting lefty JUNICHI WATANABE, 121 3/4, JBC #9 ranked
super-bantam, 121 3/4, dropped Philippine bantam champ JOEL JUNIO, 120
1/2, three times and decked an easy KO win at 2:39 of the opening canto
in a scheduled 10.
Watanabe's powerful left hurt Junio so much that the Filipino hit the
deck time and again with the Japanese southpaw's assault.
Watanabe is 18-3, 15 KOs. He failed to win the vacant Japanese bantam
throne via second round KO by Toshiaki Nishioka in Dec. of the previous
year.
Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(1-8-00)
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Joe Koizumi
If you wish to refer to my previous reports, please access to:
http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm
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