SYLVESTER LOPEZ WATCHED SATO WIN WORLD TITLE IN JAPAN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Mar 2012
World Boxing Council super flyweight silver champion Sylvester Lopez was at ringside together with his promoter Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde Jr to watch Japan?s Yota Sato win the world title by a unanimous twelve round decision of Thai champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai in Tokyo.
Lopez earned a mandatory crack at the winner of the title fight when he grabbed the WBC silver title with a sensational 8th round TKO over heavily favored Oscar Ibarra in Mexico which also served as a title eliminator, thus earning the right to a title shot at the winner between Rungvisai and Sato, last September 24.
There were no details on how the three judges ? Rey Danseco, Marty Sammon and Jae Bong Kim scored the fight in favor of the Japanese challenger who improved his record to 24-2-1 with 12 knockouts following the victory over Rungvisai who dropped to 20-5-1 with 7 knockouts.
The 27 year old Sato enjoyed a 4 1/2 inch height advantage over Rungvisai but will not have such an advantage over Lopez who stands around 5' 6 1/2".
The 23 year old Rungvisai won the title last August when he outpointed Mexico?s lanky Tomas Rojas and then successfully defended the green and gold belt against Japan?s Nobuo Nashiro.
The 27 year old Sato who won the Japanese super flyweight title in September 2010 with a victory over Daigo Nakahiro was figuring in his first world title fight.
Sato successfully defended his Japanese national title against Yuki Fukumoto over whom he scored a 7th round TKO as well as Kenji Oba who he knocked out in the 4th round and Yoshihito Ishizaki over whom he won a ten round decision.
Lopez also proved his punching power with a 4th round TKO over Yuki Fukumoto on March 10 this year, dropping the hapless Japanese once in round three and once more in round four before referee Silvestre Abainza called at halt at 0:19 seconds of the round.
Elorde who returns tomorrow (Wednesday) along with Lopez is expected to begin negotiations with the handlers of Sato as soon as possible.
Photo: Sylvester Lopez (back of camera) connects against Oscar Ibarra of Mexico.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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