|
March '05: Notable Results
IBF Jr. Bantamweight: Jiro Watanabe (2-1, 2 KO) vs Alexander Munoz (2-1-1, 1 KO)
The southpaw Watanabe comes in following an impressive destruction of undefeated Chartchai Sasakul, who was making his first endeavor into the big time after coming up from the WBO. Watanabe knocked him out in the 10th of a fight he had largely dominated. The crafty southpaw would meet Munoz, whose pure firepower would be difficult to contend with. The opening round is a slugfest, Watanabe landing more blows, but Munoz landing the harder shots, knocking Watanabe backward several times. More of the same in the second, with Munoz taking the round more decisively. But Watanabe's tactical prowess takes over, spending the next three rounds thoroughly neutralizing Munoz's offense. It seems clear Munoz is loading up, trying to land the big shot, but Watanabe is showing different angles and defending very well, while doing an exceptional job of counterpunching. Watanabe has Munoz in danger in the fourth, but Munoz survives. In the 6th, Munoz regains control midway through the round with a straight right that almost puts Watanabe down. He backs into a corner and withstands a punishing assault from Munoz over the final minute. But the next three rounds are all Watanabe, who is making Munoz miss often and continues to counterpunch brilliantly, raking Munoz with hooks to the body and combinations up top.
The two start the 10th tactically, when out of nowhere a hard right from Munoz hammers Watanabe, dropping him to the canvas. Dazed, he fails his first effort to rise, but makes it up at 9. Ref Rafael Ramos lets the bout continue, but Watanabe has 2:30 to try and make up for the knockdown, or even survive. Watanabe dodges for a while, but a hook, a jab and a pair of blistering combinations put Watanabe down for the count in a stirring and impressive victory for Munoz.
Watanabe was up on 2 cards, with the third even, after 9.
Alexander Munoz KO 10 Jiro Watanabe
WBC Jr. Middleweight: Eckhard Dagge (5-1-1) vs Davey Moore (2-2)
Dagge debuts from the WBO in a brutal fight. Moore takes 2 of the first 3 rounds, but is gashed across the bridge of his nose. Moore hammers away and Dagge bangs with up, but the cut is continually opened wider and wider, the blood continuing to flow and causing an increasing problem for Moore. On top of it, swelling around his eyes poses a problem and his corner is working feverishly to try and keep him in the bout. Dagge's left eye swells rapidly in round 8, in which a bloody Moore is dominant. But Moore's corner can't halt the bleeding, or the swelling any longer, and after Moore is worked over for a minute to open the 9th, the bout is stopped with Moore's face a crimson mask. Two cards even, Dagge up a point on the third at stoppage.
Eckhard Dagge TKO 9 Davey Moore
WBA Flyweight: Tadashi Tomori (0-4) vs Jung-Koo Chang (3-1)
Chang back in the ring for the first time since dropping the unanimous decision in the tournament final to Ricardo Lopez. Tomori throws a ton of punches but so does Chang. Difference is Chang's actually land. An easy, unanimous victory for the Korean Hawk, 99-93, 98-93, 98-94. Tomori is said to be considering retirement.
Jung-Koo Chang UD 10 Tadashi Tomori
More bouts of note to come
GH
|