IMAOKA DEMOLISHES TAMAKI IN ONE TO RETAIN OPBF FEATHER TITLE
This reporter was the matchmaker of this regional title bout and expected it to be a much better and longer fight, since Tamaki was a good jabber and excellent footwork, if not a hard-hitter. But Imaoka's long right hand caught the challenger's face so effectively that he stood up rubbery-legged only to hit the deck again with the champ's follow-up. Tamaki is an unfortunate boy who failed to win a title on 4 occasions--losing to Koji Matsumoto twice in 1992 and 1995 and being stopped by Takashi Koshimoto on his own gash in 1996. for Tamaki, this shocking defeat may be his swan song.
It was Imaoka's first defense since he captured the OPBF throne, dropping the defending champ Samuel Duran twice en route to a unanimous nod in Tokyo last Nov. Imaoka will face ex-champ Duran here in his second defense in Jul. It will be a grudge fight.
In a semi-final 10, Yasuki Matsuda, 118, floored Toshihiro Naito, 118,
with a vicious right cross and sent him sprawling to the deck with a
left hook following a right, stopping him at 1:18 of the 2nd round.
Promoter: Saida Promotions.
(4-13-98)
Joe Koizumi
japjoe@t3.rim.or.jp
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