The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire |
Unbeaten Japanese TAKANORI HATAKEYAMA, 130, barely kept his WBA super-featherweight title as he came off the canvas in the 2nd, furiously fought in the close range thereafter and drew with Mexican SAUL DURAN, 129 1/2, over 12. Scored: Lou Tabat (US) 114-111 for Hatakeyama, Ferdinando Estrella (Philippines) 116-113 for Duran, and Gustavo Padilla (Panama) 113-113. This reporter's tally was identical with the total of Lou Tabat, though there were some differences in round-by-round scores. It was Hatakeyama's first defense since he dethroned Korean Yongsoo Choi on a hard-fought decision on Sept. 5 of the previous year. The hard-hitting Japanese footworker made a good start with sharp jabs and left-right combinations in the opening session, though Duran completely covered himself up. Surprisingly did the champ hit the deck from Duran's well-timed jab near the end of the 2nd. It's a flash knockdown, but Hatakeyama's corner abruptly changed his fight plan and made him bore in and fight in the close quarter from the 3rd round on. The 3rd saw the Japanese pin the Mexican to the ropes with a barrage of punches, winning a point. Duran, who had failed to win the WBC light throne on a unanimous nod to Steve Johnston in Sept., 1997, continued to cover himself up well and occasionally attempted to counter the willing mixer. Duran, 2 years his senior at 25, took the 4th with sharp combos. It became a war between the aggressive infighter and the retreating countepuncher. The champ was in command in the 6th and 7th, as he cornered him with a fusillade of punches and had him at bay. It might be a misunderstanding of Hatakeyama's corner that he was piling up points comfortably. The judges might evaluate a few but solid counters of Duran who sometimes caught the onrushing Japanese--in some other rounds. The 10th saw Australian referee Derek Milham (who moved and worked well) penalize a point from Duran for his repeated holding to avert Hatakeyama's assault. The referee, in the 11th, again deducted another point from the Mexican for his repeated low blows. Duran dominated the 10th and 11th with more accurate punches to the champ's face. The last and 12th round was competed by the fading contestants, both of whom looked less effective in punching. When the fight was over, the crowd believed in the champ's victory. But the official verdict, a split draw, stunned the crowd as well as the champ. Both corners claimed a triumph. But Duran failed to show his determination to win the title, since he continually retreated and fought with his back to the ropes for most of the contest. Hatakeyama, who was obviously an aggressor all night, kept going forward but didn't look very effective in later rounds. Hatakeyama is obliged to meet the WBA top contender Lakva Sim, Mongolia, in his next defense. Sim, residing in Korea, was born in Mongolia on Mar. 10, 1972, and compiled a professional record of 9-1-1, 8 KOs after his excellent amateur career. The Mongolian was formerly the 130-lbs. champ of PABA (Pan Asian Boxing Federation), and his first crack at the then WBA champ Yongsoo Choi was unsuccessful. Promoter: Kyoei Promotions. WBA supervisor: Dr. Elias Cordova Jr. (Panama). SCORESHEETS LOU TABAT (US) ROUND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL HATAKEYAMA 10 8 10 9 9 10 10 9 10 10 9 10 114 DURAN 9 10 9 10 10 9 9 10 9 9(-1) 10(-1) 9 111 FERDINANDO ESTRELLA (PHILIPPINES) ROUND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL HATAKEYAMA 10 8 9 9 9 10 10 9 9 10 10 10 113 DURAN 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 9(-1) 10(-1) 9 116 GUSTAVO PADILLA (PANAMA) ROUND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 TOTAL HATAKEYAMA 9 8 10 9 9 10 10 9 10 10 9 10 113 DURAN 10 10 9 10 10 9 9 10 9 9(-1) 10(-1)10 113 REFEREE: DEREK MILHAM (AUSTRALIA) UNDERARDS: WBA #6 ranked RICK "YOSHIMURA" ROBERTS, a New Yorker living in Japan for his military service, 135, celebrated his 34th birthday of the previous day, as he gave a sound boxing lesson to a Jake LaMotta stylist named KENJI FUKUNAGA, 135, and finally battered him to the punch to promt the referee's intervention at 2:50 othe the 10th and final session. Rick kept his Japanese national title for the 17th time to his credit, and raised his mark to 33-5, 19 KOs, including his two defeats in NY. Fukunaga fell to 12-7-3, 6 KOs. Gigantic 7'2" Russian NICOLAI VALUEV, 317 3/4, floored JOHN TUPOU, Tonga, 261, in the 2nd with an overhand right and finally halted him with a flurry of punches at 1:16 of the 4th in a scheduled 6. Valuev, reportedly Russian heavyweight champ, extended his unbeaten mark to 19-0, 16 KOs. Despite his size, Valuev moved and punched rather smoothly despite his lack of convincing power. Tupou, who fought well, dropped to 8-2, 6 KOs. In a scheduled 8, upcoming NAOYA HIRAHARA, 126, dropped Korean YANGKEUN CHUN, 126, with his opening attack and stopped him at 1:55 of the first round with his cornerman tossing in the towel in a scheduled 8. Hirahara, who laely campained in the US or Mexico, is 11-3-2, 7 KOs. Attendance: 6,000. (2-13-99) -- Joe Koizumi japjoe@t3.rim.or.jp If you wish to refer to my previous reports, please access to: http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm
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