Two Filipino boxers fought bravely against superior Japanese fighters and lost in a fight card of Teiken Promotions at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Sunday evening.
Former WBA super bantamweight champion Akifumi Shimoda (24-3-1, 10 KOs) proved too good for former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight champion Jonel Alibio (16-13-1, 7 KOs) scoring a lopsided ten rond decision.
Two judges had the southpaw Shimoda winning 99-91 while the third judge also had it f or the Japanese 98-93.
Shimoda won the WBA title in a twelve round decision over Ryol-li Lee last January 31 dropping Le three times en route to a title triumph but lost the crown in his first defense against mandatory challenger Rico Ramos by a 7th round knockout at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City last July 9.
Shimoda hurt Alibio with swift combinations and had the game Filipino in trouble in the ninth round but Alibio refused to g o down and survived to the end.
Unbeaten super-lightweight Yoshihiro Kamegai (20-0, 17 KOs) displayed excellent defensive skills to score a unanimous decision over hard-punching former Philippine champion Eusebio “Raging Bull” Baluarte (19-5, 12 KOs) in an eight round bout.
Kamegai dropped Baluarte with what Japanese Hall-of-Fame media man and matchmaker Joe Koizui described as “ a wicked body shot midway in round five but failed to follow it up and bring home the bacon early due to Baluarte’s admirable durability and determination.”
It was Kamegai’s first appearance since his campaign in Las Vegas, where he scored an impressive 6th round TKO over Hector Munoz in Las Vegas last October 1 after winning by a 2nd round knockout of Joel De La Cruz last June 4..
Baluarte won the Philippine super lightweight title with a 3rd round TKO of Lotlot Gaviola last February 5 but lost the title by a 1st round TKO to world title contender Romeo Jakosalem on July 30, 2011.
…