By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Boxing Beat, Naoki Fukuda

Ono fails to win WBA 105lb belt from knockout

Japanese southpaw veteran Shin Ono failed to win the WBA minimumweight champ Knockout CP Freshmart, losing a unanimous verdict (118-110, 118-109, 117-111) in Thailand on Wednesday (December 14). Ono fought well, but the younger champ maintained the action and floored him with a left counter midway in the tenth. The champ Knockout improved his mark to 14-0, 6 KOs, while Ono impaired to 19-8-3, 3 KOs.

Ikeyama, 41, keeps WBO female 102lb belt
Photo: Boxing Beat

41-year-young Nao Ikeyama successfully kept her WBO 102-pound belt by halting former WBA titlist Ayaka Miyao at 0:36 of the sixth session on Tuesday (December 13) in Tokyo. As Miyao accidentally slipped down midway in round six, she sustained a knee injury, barely stood up to resume fighting but was quickly knocked down by the champ’s assault with the referee prompt intervention. It’s Ikeyama’s fifth defense to her credit.

In the main event, WBA female 102-pound champ Yunoka Furukawa retained her belt by a majority nod (96-94, 97-93, 95-59) over OPBF rulter Mika Iwakawa over ten.

WBO#9 Kondo finishes Thai Numnak
Photo: Boxing Beat

WBO#9/IBF#5/OPBF#1 super-light Akihiro Kondo chalked up a fine KO victory over Thailander Natthaphon Numnak at 1:29 of the third round on Monday (December 12) in Tokyo.

Kano stops Thai foe Toedkiat
Photo: Boxing Beat

Having failed to win the vacant WBO 105-pound belt this August, 19-year-old Riku Kano returned to ring warfare and finely halted Thailander Toedkiat Weerachon at 0:21 of the third round in a scheduled eight in Sanda, Japan, on December 11. Kano, a busy-punching southpaw, will participate in a WBO Asia Pacific minimum title bout for the vacant championship renounced by Vic Saludar on April 23 of the next year.

Ken, Masuda keep OPBF, Japanese belts
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten light-flyweight prospect, WBC#5 Shiro Ken ran his mark to 9-0, 5 KOs when he kept his OPBF 108-pound belt by dropping WBC#15 Filipino Lester Abutan with a flurry of punches and then halting him on the referee’s intervention at 1:57 of the third round in Tokyo on December 8. In a companion title bout, Japanese bantam ruler Kentaro Masuda retained his national belt by a quick demolition of Satoshi Ozawa at 1:20 of the second session.