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06/21/2004 Archived Entry: "Japanese Champ held to draw"
Japanese Champ Hatakeyama held to draw
By Joe Koizumi
Tokyo, Japan, June 21, 2004: Japanese 108-pound champ Masato Hatakeyama (12-2-3, 4 KOs), 106.75, barely kept his Japanese national belt as he was badly dropped with a southpaw left of much shorter Hidekazu Miyagi (12-3-2, 5 KOs), 107.5, in the beginning of the tenth and final round, desperately withstood his retaliation and was held to a majority draw (95-94 for the champ, 96-95 for the challenger, and 95-95) over ten hard-fought rounds on Monday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Hatakeyama, making his fourth defense, displayed his busier hands, if not so accurate, piling up points comfortably in earlier rounds, though he occasionally took the southpaw's lefts and right hooks in middle rounds. The lanky champ might have been careless in the final session after winning a decisive-looking point in the ninth. Miyagi's left to the button, in the tenth, was so well-timed and effective that the champ wobblingly raised himself up and was shaken up repeatedly until the final bell came to his rescue.
Undercard: Fresh and sharp Mikihito Setoh (11-6-1, 4 KOs), 121.25, often landed good jabs and effective overhand rights to earn an upset decision (77-76 twice and 78-77) over Japanese #9 ranked 115-pounder Daisuke Yamanaka (12-2, 8 KOs), 121.75, piloted by ex-WBA ruler Yoko Gushiken, over eight. Japanese #7 ranked Kazuhito Misaki (12-9-2, 1 KO), 139.25, eked out a hairline unanimous nod over Tokuhito Nakamura (9-9, 3 KOs), 140, over eight.
Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
