Ex-IBF Champ Nishida Technical Decisions Mercado, Wins In IBF 122lb Eliminator for #1
By Joe Koizumi
Having been halted by Junto Nakagawa in a WBC/IBF bantam unification bout last June, ex-IBF champ Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs), 122, moved up to the junior feather category, and was awarded a unanimous technical decision (all 69-64) over IBF#4 Brian Mercado Vazquez (32-2, 26 KOs), 121.25, at 2:53 of the seventh session in a twelve-round eliminator for #1 on Sunday in Osaka, Japan. Steadily piling up points, the Japanese southpaw suffered a nasty deep cut over the left optic caused by an accidental butt, and a technical decision was duly taken in favor of him since he maintained the initiative with his sharp combinations in the close quarter all the way.
Ex-national champ Shuma Nakazato (16-3-4, 8 KOs), 134.5, acquired the vacant OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) lightweight belt by winning a unanimous decision (98-91 twice, 96-93) over Korean Min-Ho Jung (19-6-2, 5 KOs), 134.5, over ten. Shuma followed his father Shigeru’s footstep by seizing the OPBF belt. Shigeru had failed to win the world 122-pound belt on three occasions, losing to Oscar Larios twice in 2003 and 2004, and to Mahyar Monshipour in France in 2005 (which was his last fight).
For the vacant OPBF 122-pound belt Kaito Yamazaki (11-1-1, 6 KOs), 121.75, and Mugicha Nakagawa (32-11-4, 20 KOs), 121.75, fought to a split draw (97-93 for Yamazaki, 96-94 for Nakagawa, 95-95) over ten close rounds. The belt remains still vacant.
Former three-time WBC bantam champ Joichiro Tatsuyoshi’s son, JBC#10 super bantam Juiki Tatsuyoshi (17-1-2, 10 KOs), 121.5, drew with Shoki Yamauchi (7-6-1, 6 KOs), 121.5, over eight.
Promoter: Muto Promotions
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