[Ian Lord]

22nd - Tokyo, Japan

Main event at the Ryogoku Sumo Arena saw heavyweight contenders Lennox Lewis and Tony 'TNT' Tubbs squaring of against each other.
Lewis, ranked number two, was on an excellent run of twelve victories and looks on the brink of a world title shot. Tubbs was coming in off a knockout defeat at the fists of James 'Buster' Douglas.
Lewis came out and took control from the off, spearing Tubbs with his jab, and often landing with his excellent right cross. The second was a fast paced round, with plenty of leather thrown and not much in it. Tubbs was warned for use of the head, although it looked accidental. The third was an even, torrid affair, with both men content to lean on each other.
The fourth however, seemed to be the turning point, with Lewis taking total command. He bloodied Tubbs' nose after the bell, and remained on top throughout.
The fifth was a big round for Lewis, with Tubbs looking out on his feet. The referee stared intently at Tubbs, looking as though he was going to step in at any minute to stop the fight. However, the bell sounded, and Tubbs was safe. His right eye had begun to balloon up.
Lewis took the seventh, with the referee stopping the round ten seconds early.
Plenty of action in the seventh, with Lewis landing the more telling shots and now seemingly well ahead on points. Lewis took the eighth, and then dropped Tubbs in the ninth with one of his crosses, which had been troubling Tubbs all-night. Tubbs, knowing he was way behind on points, came out for the last round looking for the knockout. Lewis played it safe and won by scores of 99-92, 98-93, and 98-92 to improve to 17-1 [11]. Tubbs dropped to 8-7-1 [2].
After the bout Lewis, who holds the Commonwealth title, called out the winner of next months world title fight between champion Riddick Bowe, and North Amercan champ Larry Holmes, who both boxed to a draw in April.

Chief support saw another Englishman, middleweight Alan 'Boom Boom' Minter, score another comfortable win, when he beat Japan's Tadeshi Mihara with scores of 97-94 twice, and 99-92. Minter was warned straight after the opening bell for butting, but soon settled down and controlled the fight by using some neat boxing skills against the cruder Mihara. Minter won every round bar the sixth, which saw both men going toe to toe. Minter improves to 5-6 [2], whilst Mihara, who holds the Asian, Oriental, and Japanese middleweight titles, drops to 5-5 [3].

Japan's Shinji Takahara, after totally dominating American Larry Banks for six rounds, came out for the seventh and put him away with a barrage of punches after thirty three seconds. Banks, who now sports an unimpressive record of 0-14-1, was down in the second and twice in the fifth, and was swollen around both eyes. Takehara improves to 2-5 [2].

Harry Arroyo scored an eight round unanimous decision over Japanese lightweight Yatsune Uehara. Scores were 76-70 twice, and 78-69. Arroyo dominated, dropping Uehara in the first, fifth, and three times in the sixth, although Arroyo, 2-3 [1], also tasted the canvas, albeit briefly, in the third. Uehara, 1-3-1, also suffered a swollen eye.

Filipino lightweight Rolando Navarrette dropped Lee Cargle three times, [2nd, 5th, and 8th rounds], en route to a unanimous decision. Scores were 78-71, 79-70, and 78-71. There is talk of Navarrette, 3-1-1, meeting Japans Yatsune Uehara in December for the vacant Asian lightweight title. Cargle dropped to 0-3-1.

Lightweight Claude Noel scored a split decision verdict over Filipino Tirso Albia with scores of 78-74 on two cards, and 76-77, although how the third judge scored for Albia nobody knows. Noel, now 3-2 [2], took seven of the eight rounds comfortably, and opened up a nasty looking gash above the right eye of Albia, 0-3-1, in the process.