By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Sumio Yamada
IBF junior flyweight champion Thanongsak Simsi (41-1, 36 KOs), 107, Thailand, impressively decked a quick TKO victory over Japan-based Filipino Mark Vicelles (21-3-1, 11 KOs), 107.25, at 2:05 of the second round to retain his belt on Saturday in Fuji city, Shizuoka, Japan. It was a rare confrontation of the foreign contestants fighting for the world belt, but it was a very dramatic stoppage to stun the audience. Vicelles dominated the first round with his clear aggressiveness, but Simsri, in round two, exploded a picture-perfect straight right to the Filipino southpaw, flooring him with a thud. Thanongsak landed another solid right to the bewildered challenger and sent him to the canvas again. The champ furiously swarmed over him with a flurry of punches to the damaged rival to prompt the referee Koji Tanaka to declare a well-timed halt. Thanongsak jubilantly said, “I’m happy to show a fine victory to my family in Thailand through the international telecast.”
The semi-final saw Filipino challenger Pete Apolinar score a fine TKO victory over WBO#8 Shunpei Ohata (who had lost his belt on the scale) at 2:11 in the ninth round to gain the vacant WBO Asia Pacific junior lightweight belt. Pete dropped Shunpei in round three, but Ohata decked him back in round five. It was such a give-and-take affair, but the overweight dethroned champ Ohata couldn’t show his usual zip only to be badly battered to be save by the referee Ikehara in the fatal session.
Promoter: Ohashi Promotions in association with Suruga Danji Promotions.
