Former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super bantamweight champion Jimrex Jaca (23-1-1, 9KOs) fought to a majority draw against ex-Japanese titlist Kinji Amano (22-8-5, 12KOs) in their very entertaining fight the other night at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. After the 10-round brawl, the scores stood at 95-95, 96-96 and 96-95, thus, the draw.
Jaca, managed by Cebuano bigtime promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, was pressing the attack in the first three rounds, but suffered a flash knockdown in the closing seconds the fourth after being caught by Kunimi’s left hook to the stomach.
The 30-year-old Amano was in command in the fifth, but the World Boxing Council ranked No.18 126-pounder Jaca courageously fought back to rounds six to eighth round.
An accidental headbutt bloodied Nakano, but the stubborn Japanese warrior showed his last surge and kept on stalking Jaca with body hits in the final session.
Over at the Rachadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Philippine champion Joel Bauya (15-7-3, 8KOs) faltered in his quest to wrest the Pan Asia Boxing Association bantamweight crown after losing by unanimous decision to defending champion ang WBA top contender Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (22-0,15 KOs).
The scores were 120-106, 120-106 and 120-107, all for Poonsawat, who is now planning for the WBA title mandatory challenge against Ukrainian champion Wladimir Sidorenko within this year.
