December 13, 1999

OSAKA, JAPAN-The OPBF super-fly champ MASAMORI TOKUYAMA, 114 3/4, successfully kept his regional title as he pounded out a unanimous decision over Korean flyweight champ KWANGWOONG LEE, 115, over 12.

The lanky Japanese speedster had an upper hand all the way, as he positively outjabbed Lee with precision and battered him with sharp combinations almost in every round. Only Lee's durability prevented him from being a KO victim.

Scored: referee Takeo Harada (Japan) 118-108, judge Ichiro Uenaka (Japan) 119-107 and judge Kwangwoo Lee (Korea) 106-113, all for Tokuyama, 20-2-1, 4 KOs. Lee fell to 5-2-1, 3 KOs. (Remarks: Please distinguish the Korean challenger Kwangwoon Lee from the Korean judge Kwangwoo Lee. Both had very similar names.)

Lee was penalized a point twice for holding in the third and for hitting after the referee's order to break away in the 6th, while Tokuyama also for hitting his opponent as the third man ordred them to break away in the 12th.

The WBC #10 ranked Tokuyama had acquired the vacant OPBF title by a split but popular decision over Thailand's WBC #11 ranked Pone Saengmorakot last September, as ex-champ Raffy Montalban (AKA Mangoro Ishimaru) was obliged to renounce his title due to a hand fracture. Tokuyama is willing to face the ex-titlist Montalban upon his recovery.

UNDERCARD:
Fast-rising hard-hitting prospect EIICHI SUGAMA, 125 1/2, sank Thanlander SIENGTHIPYA SITSYASE-I, 127 3/4, with a single body shot for the count at 2:09 of the opening canto in a semi-final 10.

Sugama, formerly All Japan novice king tourney winner, is 15-1, 13 KOs. If his mobility becomes a bit smoother, he may be a brighter prospect. Kanazawa Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(12-13-99)

Dec. 13
TOKYO-On the same night here at Korakuen Hall, Japanese super-feather champ KOJI ARISAWA, 130, kept his national throne, as he furiously mixed up with lefty veteran NOBUTOSHI HIRANAKA, 130, and finally made him so groggy that referee Ken Morita intervened to save the latter at 2:14 of the 4th round.

The champ, making his third defense, suffered gashes on the left side of the skull and the eyebrow in the third, but he went forward and overwhelmed the slower lefty with a flurry of body shots in the fatal session.

Arisawa is 23-1, 18 KOs with his sole defeat by Takanori Hatakeyama, future WBA 130-lbs. champ, in March of the previous year. Hiranaka, who had failed to win the world title twice against Eloy Rojas and Luisito Espinosa, dropped to 18-6-1, 11 KOs.

Arisawa previously kept his national title that he regained, in his first defense, as he survived a 4th round visit to the deck and displayed a finest last surge to eke out a split but popular decision last March. It's a grudge fight, but Koji showed his superior gameness in overwhelming the durable veteran.

UNDERCARDS:
YOSHITERU OKAZAKI, 130, needed just 1:16 of the opening canto to polish off Filipino REY MARSAN, 128 3/4, in a scheduled 10. Okazaki, managed by Masahiko "Fighting" Harada, is 6-0, 6 KOs. This ex-amateur boy can punch, though not yet rated by the JBC. Soka Arisawa Promotions.
(12-13-99)

MAKOTO OHKUBO, 135, finished Filipino AGUI FRANCISCO, 132 1/4, at 2:32 of the second round in a scheduled 8. Ohkubo, stablemake of Koji Arisawa, is 8-2-1, 5 KOs. The Filipino loser is reportedly 5-5-1, a KO.

--
Joe Koizumi
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