MATSUSHITA DETHRONES TUNACAO IN TOKYO!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Jan 2007
Japan-based Filipino Rolly (Lunas) Matsushita tonight bucked all odds, as he dethroned heavy favorite Malcolm Tunacao as the OPBF bantamweight champion via a tenth-round technical decision in their scheduled 12-rounder at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Matsushita scored the lone knockdown in the fight when he put Tunacao on the canvas in the second round.
Filipino referee Silvestre Abainza had to stop the fight in the tenth stanza following an accidental clash of heads that produced a big cut on Tunacao, and the fight had to go to the scorecard.
Matsushita prevailed after tallying the judges' scorecards, with two judges favoring Matsushita while the third judge had the fight even at the time of the stoppage.
"I am so happy for this win. My prayers and hard work paid off. Thanks for all the support," Matsushita told this writer in an interview yesterday, referring to those few people who had rooted for him to win.
Tunacao was making the third defense of the title he won via a lop-sided unanimous decision over Thai Kumarnthong Pluemkamol in late-2005.
Matsushita, who trained for this fight at the Kashimi Boxing Gym in Japan, said he thanked his sponsor the Matsushita group and his manager Kashimi and trainer Mack Kurihara for his successful challenge.
This is a major win for Matsushita, who had been written off by most pundits as an over-the-hill former prospect after briefly reigning as the PABA flyweight champion.
Meanwhile, RP bantam champ Michael Domingo lost in his bout to Japanese Kazuyuki Ichikawa, while highly-ranked Michael Farenas edged out Japanese Takuro Matsubara on the undercard of the Matsushita-Tunacao bout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
Thu, 02 Oct 2025IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thu, 02 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 02 Oct 2025World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 01 Oct 2025JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 01 Oct 2025CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
Wed, 01 Oct 2025USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
Wed, 01 Oct 2025Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Oct 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
By Eric Armit, Tue, 30 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
By Dong Secuya, Tue, 30 Sep 2025Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
Tue, 30 Sep 2025Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 30 Sep 2025