The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire


Results from Japan for Last Half of June: Joe Koizumi


These are delayed reports on fights here in Japan in the second half of June.

YAMATO DEMOLISHES KOREAN HONG IN 4
June 19, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Former Japanese bantam champ SHIN YAMATO, WBC #16 contender, 121, dropped Korean SUNGPYO HONG, 121, four times and finally finished him at 1:20 of the 4th round.

It's a great surprise for the crowd that Yamato, regarded as a powder-puff puncher, sent him crashing to the deck in every round and displayed a fine stoppage. Yamato, handled by influential impresario Akihiko Honda, renounced his national title to have a crack at the OPBF title against Jess Maca only to lose a lopsided 12-round decision here last Jan. The skinny lefty is 14-2-4, 5 KOs. Teiken Promotions. (6-19-99)

OPBF BANTAM CHAMP MACA GIVES A LESSON TO WBC #30 RANKED OKAMOTO
June 21, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-The WBC #7 ranked OPBF bantam boss JESS MACA, a crafty Filipino, 119 1/4, engaged in a non-title bout, and scored a shutout decision over previously unbeaten TAIJI OKAMOTO, 119, over 10.

It's a disappointing performance of Okamoto who continually failed to catch the elusive Filipino. Okamoto had battled to a well-fought draw with the WBC rated Jose Rafael Sosa of Argentina here last Feb., but Maca was too fast and tricky for the straightforward Okamoto to catch. The difference of their defensive skill caused such a lopsided affair. Scored: 100-95, 100-94 and 100-93, all for Maca, reprotedly 37-16-3, 17 KOs. Okamaoto dropped to 12-1-2, 10 KOs.

The JBC #8 super-flight KOKICHI TANAKA, 135, finally disposed of unorthodox Filipino veteran FRANCIS VELASQUEZ, 135, at 1:06 of the 10th and final session.

Tanaka swept all rounds in the first 6, but became visibly tired only to be battered by the Filipino from the 7th on. But Tanaka's vicious one-two combo flattened him with the towel tossed in while the referee was counting. (In Japan, it is registered as a KO.) Tanaka is 13-5-1, 8 KOs. Velasquez reportedly sagged to 29-14-6, 7 KOs. Kyoei Promotions in association with Shinto Promotions. (6-21-99)

TOKUYAMA OUTSPEEDS IMAZU
June 24, 1999
OSAKA, JAPAN-The JBC #1 ranked super-fly MASAMORI TOKUYAMA, 114 1/2, proved too smart and fast for TATSUYA IMAZU, 114 3/4, winning a unanimous decision over 10.

Tokuyama had displayed an upset victory over the WBA ranked Takuya Kiya in his previous bout in Tokyo last Apr., though the WBA hasn't reflect his triumph over Kiya yet. Tokuyama was an obvious winner over the less experienced Imazu, but it wasn't an easy fight. Tokuyama showed his lack of stamina, as usual, in later rounds, while Imazu came forward to dominate the final session. This was an tune-up bout for Tokuyama who will have an ambitious crack at the OPBF super-fly title against Raffy Montalban in Osaka on Oct. 17. Tokuyama is 18-2-1, 4 KOs, and Imazu 9-3, 2 KOs. Kanazawa Promotions. (6-24-99)

WBA #7 DIMAS OUTSCORES SLOWER KAWABATA
June 27, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-In a semi-final supporting the WBA super-feather title bout in which Lakva Sim pulverized Takanori Hatakeyama in the 5th, the WBA #7 ranked light fly lefty YURA DIMAS, 113, Mongolia, defeated game but slower MASAKI KAWABATA, 113, by a majority but popular decision over 8.

It looked a nearly lopsided affair with the Mongolian southpaw giving a lesson to the stiff and nervous Japanese. Kawabata couldn't throw enough punches to win a decision. Scored: 78-76, 79-76 and 77-77. Dimas bettered his mark to 7-2, 3 KOs, and Kawabata dropped to 15-2-2, 7 KOs.

YOSHITERU OKAZAKI, 129 1/2, halted Filipino ALAN MORRE, 128, at the end of the 5th round in a scheduled 8. The Filipino loser lost his fighting spirit and retired abruptly. Okazaki is 4-0, as many KOs. Morre reportedly impaired to 7-4-1, 3 KOs. (6-27-99)

WBC #4 RANKED LIGHTIE SAKAMOTO FINISHES KOO IN 7
June 27, 1999
TAGAWA, JAPAN-The WBC #4 ranked lightie HIROYUKI SAKAMOTO, 142 1/2, decked his victory before the crowd at his native place, as he floored Korean WONSEH KOO, KBC #4 super-light, 142 1/2, twice and finally embalmed him with a wicked body shot at 0:43 of the 7th round in a scheduled 10.

Tata Abastas, a Filipino boxer, was slated to fight Sakamoto, but he suddenly became unable to arrive here as he suffered Hepatitis B according to the matchmaker Bong Obero. So, the Korean lefty replaced him with a very short notice. Despite this situation, Koo showed a good performance to confuse Sakamoto with his neat footwork until he was caught by the vaunted power of Sakamoto who previously had a couple of WBC title shots, losing to Steve Johnston and Cesar Bazan. Sakamoto improved his ledger to 33-3, 24 KOs. Koo tasted his first defeat and dropped to 4-1, 2 KOs. (6-27-99)

EX-JAPANESE WELTER CHAMP NAKAHARA SINKS KOREAN TYSON
June 28, 1999
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-Japanese welter champ MAKOTO NAKAHARA, 150, dropped Korean lefty TYSON YUN, 150, KBC's #3 ranked super-welter, three times en route to a fine KO win at 0:59 of the third round.

Nakahara's body bombardments were effective enough to weaken the Korean opponent. Nakahara is 12-3-2, 5 KOs. Yun, who had better deleted Tyson out of his ring name, fell to 9-6, 5 KOs. (6-28-99)

Kyoei Promotions in association with Yokohama Hikari Gym. (6-27-99)

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Joe Koizumi
If you wish to refer to my previous reports, visit: http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm

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