Philippines, 06 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


KOBORI WINS OPBF 130LB BELT


PhilBoxing.com


TOKYO, JAPAN -- Hard-punching WBC#9/WBA#9 Japanese super-feather champ Yusuke Kobori (20-2-1, 11 KOs), 130, acquired the vacant OPBF 130-pound belt as he dropped taller southpaw Junji Murakami (15-5-2, 7 KOs), 129.5, four times and finally halted him at 1:52 of the seventh round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. Both the OPBF and national titles were at stake, and Kobori won all.

As ex-OPBF champ Nobuhito Honmo had an unsuccessful shot at Edwin Valero's WBA throne this May, he had renounced the regional belt in accordance with the OPBF's regulations. Murakami had been slated to have a rematch with Honmo (who lately announced his retirement after being annihilated by Valero) before his obligatory relinquishment, and this elimination bout took place between the leading available contender Kobori and Murakami.

Murakami, a slick-punching lefty, made a very good start by making good use of southpaw jabs and fast footwork. Kobori, in the second, caught his lanky opponent with a vicious right following a furious assault to drop him twice. With 90 seconds still left, we thought it was a matter of time for Kobori to bring back the bacon within the second canto. But the game southpaw amazingly fought back to last the round, and furthermore dominated the next two sessions.

The fifth, however, saw Kobori explode again with a same right to the lefty's button, dropping him badly onto the canvas. Again Murakami barely lasted the crisis by showing his admirable determination. Kobori then accelerated his attack to be in command in the sixth and finally caught him with a wicked right, flooring him for the fourth time. Murakami gamely resumed fighting, but Kobori$B!G(Bs fierce follow-up combination promoted the ref Asao to call it off without bothering to count. Kobori, less skillful but powerful, had served as a sparring partner for Marco Antonio Barrera to prepare for his ill-fated defense with Juan Manuel Marquez. Kobori didn't show his technical improvement through his service for Barrera, but displayed his raw power as usual.

Undercard:

A couple of stunning upsets were seen in preliminary bouts. Nobuhiro Hisada (just 7-5-2, 3 KOs), 104.75, scored an unexpected decision over Japanese #3 minimum Toshiki Ogawa (14-5-1, 8 KOs), 105, a lately fast-rising prospect, over ten. Ogawa, after twice defeating ex-national champ Makoto Suzuki, was praised by experts, but unbelievably showed a luckluster performance tonight. Unbeaten underdog, unranked Hidenori Kobayashi (12-0-1, 4 KOs), 124, was awarded an upset majority nod (96-94, 97-96 and 95-96) over Japanese #8 super-bantam prospect Yuta Nagai (19-4-2, 12 KOs), 124, over ten. Kobayashi had been inactive for four years due to his eye ailment and recently made a successful comeback. Though it was regarded as too much for him to face such a rising prospect as Nagai in his second comebacking bout, Kobayashi, a powder-puff puncher with precision, gamely mixed it up with the hard-hitting Nagai and barely outpunched the only offensive-minded rival, whose poor defensive skills cost this game and most probably his Japanese rating.

PS Today is the Boxing Day in Japan, as Yoshio Shirai wrested the world flyweight title by defeating Dado Marino, of Hawaii, in 15 rounds to become the first Japanese world champ today of 55 years ago.

Promoter: Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.

Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.

(5-19-07)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joe Koizumi.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
    , Fri, 06 Jun 2025
  • Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • “Prospects Collide” Full Card Announced
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Correa Set for High-Stakes Bantamweight Showdown vs. Undefeated Michael Angeletti on ProBox TV
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Kansas Athletic Commission overturns ‘No Contest’ to TKO win for undefeated Super middleweight prospect Marco Romero
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • 2nd JCI Senate Lipa Chess Festival set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • RING III: TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR THRILLING JULY 12 NEW YORK DOUBLE HEADER FEATURING STEVENSON-ZEPEDA AND BERLANGA-SHEERAZ
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Unbeaten Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Faces Power-Punching Shaquille Cameron on Most Valuable Prospects 13, Live on DAZN
    , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • IIEE National Chess Olympiad
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Mental Health & Mental Wellness
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • Inaugural AFBC Normalisation Committee meeting sets vision for strategic reforms and collaboration
    , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • PACQUIAO AT L.A. PRESSCON: "I'M BACK!"
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • Preparation and Planning are Keys to Pacquiao’s Success
    By Ed de la Vega, DDS, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • THURSDAY: Albert Ramirez-Michael Flannery Battle of Unbeatens to Stream LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
    , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • Is Martin next Manny?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • AMMO LANDS IBF WORLD TITLE FINAL ELIMINATOR AGAINST OLIHA ON BAM-CAFU SHOW
    , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • Bree Howling Ready to Shine in Battle of Undefeated Bantamweights on Most Valuable Prospects 13 June 7th
    , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT FIGHT WEEK NEWS AND NOTES 
    , Wed, 04 Jun 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 6 - ALI KNOCKS FOREMAN OUT IN RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 03 Jun 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
    , Tue, 03 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.