JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI, WBC bantam champ, decided to risk his title against ex-WBA bantam ruler VEERAPHOL NAKONLUAN-PROMOTION, Thailand, in Osaka on Dec. 29. Tatsuyoshi captured the WBC 118-pound crown by dispatching Thailander Sirimongkol Nakornthorn-Parkview in 7 see-saw rounds in Osaka in Nov., 1997. Joichiro, 17-4-1, 12 KOs, kept it twice, beating Jose Rafael Sosa (W12) and Paulie Ayala (TW6) to his credit. Veeraphol, 19-1, 13 KOs, was formerly a kick-boxing star in Bangkok prior to entering the international paid ranks. He captured the WBA title in his 4th pro bout, upsetting Daorung MP Petroleum on points in 1995. His reign was brief, as he dropped Ghanan Nana Konadu in the first round but sank in the 2nd to forfeit his WBA crown in his 1st defense. Veeraphol is regarded as a dangerous opposition to Tatsuyoshi due to his fast footwork and crisp punching. But Tatsuyoshi, a flamboyant and talkative champ, predicts his KO win. SATOSHI IIDA, WBA super-fly champ, will put his title on the line against compatriot TAKATO TOGUCHI, 23-3, 19 KOs, in Nagoya on Dec. 23. Iida, 25-1-1, 11 KOs, is a game and stylish lefty who wrested the title by eking out a decision over Thailand's Yokthai Sith-Oar on the same day of the previous year. Iida kept it twice by outscoring compatriot Hiroki Ioka and #1 contender Julio Gamboa. Toguchi, a wild-swinging hard-puncher, had an unsuccessful crack at the WBC fly title against Russian Yuri Arbachakov, losing on a 9th round TKO in 1996. Toguchi, scoring 5 wins with 4 KOs since, may have a puncher's chance, but Iida is a smarter and faster southpaw. PICHIT CHOR SIRIWAT, WBA light fly champ, will defend his title against Korean TAEKIL LEE in Bangkok on Oct. 17, while the WBA Convention is held there. Pichit demolished Japanese lefty Keiji Yamaguchi with a single southpaw right hook in 2 quick rounds in Osaka, Japan, in Dec., 1996. The fleet-footed lefty retained his diadem twice, beating Sangchul Lee and #1 contender Hadao CP Gym both on points. Though Pichit has been inactive since his last defense with Hadao, he will outspeed the Korean underdog with ease. INJOO CHO, who upset the WBC super-fly boss Gerry Penalosa in Seoul last Aug., will face WBC #1 ranked contender JOEL LUNA ZARATE, Mexico, in Seoul on Dec. 27. Zarate fought to a 2nd round technical draw with Penalosa in Manila on Apr. 25, and the WBC recommended a rematch after Penalosa's voluntary defense in Korea. But the Filipino lefty amazingly dropped an upset decision to Cho chiefly due to his managerial problem with Wakee Salud. Zarate is favored to win even in Korea thanks to his superior experience, but the unbeaten Cho may try to utilize his gifted physique and speed on foot. Cho, 13-0, 6 KOs, is not a crowd-pleaser at all even in Korea because he depends on his footwork too much. KENGO NAGASHIMA, WBC #8 contender, barely kept his OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) super-feather title, as he survived an 8th round visit to the canvas, floored veteran compatriot NOBUTOSHI HIRANAKA, 130, in the 11th and earned a close but unanimous decision over 12 hard-fought rounds in Tokyo on Oct. 3. Scored: 114-113, 115-113 and 116-115, all for Nagashima, a lefty footworker, 12-1-1, 8 KOs. Hiranaka, who had failed to win the WBA and WBC feather titles at the hands of Eloy Rojas and Luisito Espinosa, fell to 17-4-1, 11 KOs. In a supporting 10, fast lefty SHIN YAMATO, 118, kept his Japanese national bantam crown on a technical draw with THE MUSASHI, 117 1/4, after the 3rd because of the champ's bad gash on an accidental clash of heads. Yamato is 13-1-4, 3 KOs. Musashi fell to 13-10-5, 7 KOs. NOLITO "SUZUKI" CABATO, 112, failed in his 7th defense of his Japanese fly title, as he lost a majority verdict (96-95, 97-96 and 96-96) to taller lefty CELES KOBAYASHI, 112, over 10 in Tokyo on Sept. 30. Cabato didn't show his usual zip, and Celes scored well with effective body shots to take the initiative. OPBF TITLE BOUTS: We will see many OPBF title bouts here in Japan. Filipino speedster RAFFY MONTALBAN, WBC #3 ranked 115-pounder, will face Japanese lefty KAZUHIRO RYUKO in Tokyo on Oct. 27. In Nagoya, on Oct. 31, a dutal OPBF title bout will take place. The vacant OPBF crown will be disputed by foreigners #1 ranked TOAKIPA TASEFA of New Zealand and #3 ranked JUSTINE FORTUNE of Australia. Originally #2 ranked PETER ISHIMARU OKELLO, an unbeaten Japan-based Ugandan, was slated to meet Tasefa, but he sustained a dislocated shoulder while he was training in Sydney, Australia. Promoter Toshiro Matsuo made up his mind to promote the Tasefa vs. Fortune bout under the condition that the winner will meet his boy Peter in 60 days. Another OPBF title bout in Nagoya will be fought by defending OPBF super-bantam champ REYNANTE JAMILI, WBC #2 ranked super-bantam, and unbeaten Japan-based lefty Ugandan ISAAC SENTUWA. The OPBF feather champ TAKEO IMAOKA, WBC #8 contender, will face compatriot TOSHIHARU SAOTOME with his title at stake in Tokyo on Nov. 9. The OPBF middle champ KEVIN PALMER, a Japan-based US military worker ranked #5 by the WBC, will defend his regional title against Filipino champ ERNIE ALESNA in Tokyo on Dec. 15. An interesting matchup is a non-title go between the OPBF bantam champ and WBC #11 contender JESS MACA and sensational KO artist SHIGERU NAKAZATO in Tokyo on Oct. 19. Nakazato, 15-1, 10 KOs, is one of the most promising youngsters here, and is expected to produce an upset triumph. Maca, a busy campaigner, will defend his title against Japanese champ Shin Yamato here in Jan. HIROAKI YOKOTA, ex-Japanese super-bantam champ, will make a one-fight comeback under our Commission's special permission, as he once announced his retirement in 1995 and became a club owner and manager. Yokota, 36 years of age and 25-5-1, 15 KOs, had an ambitious crack at the WBA super-bantam crown against Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazuez only to lose a close but unanimous decision in 1993. He will face SHINYA KIUCHI, JBC #8 feather, in Tokyo on Oct. 13. Our Commission's rules say that no boxers but world champs who become 37 years of age will not be allowed to fight in Japan. So, Yokota, just 6 days before his 37th birthday, will fight his final bout. Good luck. JOMA GAMBOA, WBA #1 ranked light fly, scored a shutout decision over lefty veteran RUDY IDANO over 10 in Mandaue, Cebu, Philippnes, on Sept. 25. Gamboa, 25-3-1, 19 KOs (including 8 first round KOs), will have a mandatory shot at the winner of Pichit Chor Siriwat and Taekil Lee this coming Dec. or Jan. VERNIE TORRES, previously unbeaten Philippine super-fly champ ranked #12 by the WBC, surprisingly dropped a close but unanimous decision to FELIX MARFA in a non-title bout. ======================== If you wish to refer to my previous reports, please access to: http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm
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