December 15, 1999

TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-OPBF welter champ HIROYUKI YOSHINO, 154, displayed his trade-mark left hook and sank YASUHIDE TARUI, 154, for the count at 2:55 of the third round.

The comebacking Yoshino, now rated #3 in the super-welter division by the JBC, bettered his mark to 33-7-1, 25 KOs. Tarui impaired to 7-7-2, 7 KOs.

UNDERCARD:
Ex-Japanese super-fly champ YOSHIAKI MATSUKURA, 118, finally finished Filipino JERWIN BALABA, 115 1/4, at 3:01 of the 8th round. Matsukura, dethroned by Akihiko Nago by a spectacular knockout, is 21-4, 18 KOs. Misako Promotions.
(12-15-99)

Dec. 11
YUKI, JAPAN-Unbeaten JBC #3 ranked lightie HIRONARI OSHIMA, 137 3/4, decked an easy triumph, as he dropped Filipino RAMON MOLINA, 135, twice and scored an expected KO at 2:06 of the second round.

Oshima is 11-0, 7 KOs. Molina is reportedly 13-15-1, 3 KOs.

JBC #9 ranked super-feather HIDEKAZU MATSUNOBU, 130, halted WOLF KAWASAKI, 130, at 2:02 of the third canto. The winner is 14-3-1, 11 KOs, and the loser 6-8, 1 KO.
Watanabe Promotions.
(12-11-99)

Dec. 10
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBC #29 ranked super-bantam HIROHISA ISHIKAWA, 122, proved faster and busier than TAKASHI MIURA, 122, winning a 8-round unanimous decision.

Scored: 79-75, 80-75 and 78-77. Ishikawa, a soft-punching but fast boxer, is 14-3-6, 4 KOs. The taller Imura is 8-6-, 2 KOs.

Sensational ex-amateur bronze medalist in the Asian Games of the previous year, lefty NORIHISA TOMIMOTO, 124 1/4, made a successful pro debut by a shutout decision over TETSUSHI ASAYAMA, 124 3/4, over 6.

Tomimoto, whose amateur mark was 87-16, 51 stoppages, was scouted by the promoter Hiroshi Saito, and he is expected to zoom up soon. He is a stylish southpaw.
Kokubunji Saito Promotions.
(12-10-99)

Dec. 8
TOKYO, JAPAN-Upcoming JBC #8 ranked fly, HIROKI SHINOZAKI, 111 3/4, defeated WBC #14 ranked minimum, Filipino JUN ARLOS, 110, by a unanimous decision over 10.

Arlos suffered a couple of decisions to Masanori Suga and Shinozaki in a row, but he is still rated #14 by the WBC, which is hoped to reflect these results of Arlos's defeats.

Shinozaki is 16-3-1, 5 KOs.
Yonekura Promotions.
(12-8-99)

ONO KEEPS JAPANESE SUPER-LIGHT TITLE
Dec. 6
TOKYO, JAPAN-WBA #8 ranked JUNICHI ONO, 140, kept his national super-light title on a split but popular decision over MASAAKI MOROOKA, 138 1/2, over 10.

Scored: 97-95 and 98-96 for Ono, and 97-96 for Morooka.

Morooka kept boring in recklessly, while Ono utilized his faster hand and foot to outmaneuver the willing mixer.

Ono improved his ledger to 19-1-2, 8 KOs. Morooka, a game and pugnacious loser, fell to 19-5-4, 7 KOs.

JBC #10 ranked flyweight hard-puncher MOTOICHIRO SATO, 111 3/4, surprisingly dropped a decision to unheralded and unranked RYUJI KUBOTA, 112, over 8.

Kubota is 7-3. Sato fell to 12-3-1, 8 KOs.
Shin Nihon Kimura Promotions.
(12-6-99)

Dec. 4
TOKYO, JAPAN-On the same night that the WBA interim minimum title bout took place in Nagoya, a doubleheader was held at the Korakuen Hall.

JBC #1 ranked super-light HIROYUKI MAEDA, 140, was befuddled by taller switch-hitter TERUYUKI HASHIMOTO, 140, but eked out a close decision over 10.

It's a tune-up go for Maeda prior to his scheduled mandatory shot at the national 140-pound title against WBA #8 ranked Junichi Ono in the forthcoming Carnival of Champions. But Hashimoto was a much tougher and trickier opponent than Maeda expected, and he struggled to earn a hairline victory.

Maeda is 19-6-2, 12 KOs. Hashimoto, who had suffered a defeat on points by WBC #11 ranked Sungho Yuh in his previous bout, is 12-6-1, 5 KOs.

JBC #2 ranked feather TOSHIKAGE KIMURA, 126, outscored TETSUYA SHINOZAKI, 125, over 10.

In the forthcoming Carnival of Champions, Kimura, 19-2-4, 8 KOs, will face top ranked ATSUSHI HAGIWARA, with whom he had drawn previously, for the vacant Japanese feather title lately renounced by Takashi Koshimoto who will have a title shot at the WBA crown against Freddie Norwood in Fukuoka on Jan. 30. Shinozaki dropped to 12-6-6, 6 KOs. Teiken Promotions.
(12-4-99)

Dec. 3
OSAKA, JAPAN-One of brightest prospects here, JBC #4 ranked HARUHIKO OKUDA, 125 1/4, disposed of Filipino MARLON CASTANEDA, 125 1/4, at 1:44 of the 4th canto.

Okuda, 15-1, 11 KOs, is handled by ex-WBA & WBC top ranked bantam contender and ex-Orient champ Eijiro Murata. Okuda is a stylish and hard-hitting prospect.
Eddie Taunsend Promotions.
(12-3-99)

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Joe Koizumi

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