September 6th

September 6th isn't one of the most important days in the history of Asian boxing but it is an interesting one due to some of the fights that took place on it.

In 1979 Japanese Olympian Yukio Segawa lost his sole world title bout, dropping a 15 round decision to Colombian Ricardo Cardona in a bout for the WBA Super Bantamweight title. This was the 4th bout against an Asian fighter for Cardona who had also beaten Soo-Hwan Hong and Soon Hyun Chung, twice, in bouts for the WBA belt.

In 2000 we saw the final professional bout for the then OPBF Light Heavyweight champion Hisashi Teraji who retired with a record of 20-1-3 (11) having been a Japanese and OPBF champion. Teraji's last bout saw him defeating Yoshinori Nishizawa. Whilst Teraji isn't a huge name in boxing we are fans of his son, the recent debutant Ken Shiro, who looks likely to be another Japanese prospect to keep an eye on.

Exactly 2 years after Teraji's last fight we saw the beginning of another fighter's career. This man was Oleydong Sithsamerchai who began his career on this day in 2002 when he beaten Salatan Lookbanyai inside a round. Oleydong would later claim the WBC Minimumweight title with a win over Eagle Den Junlaphan defend it 6 times before losing to emerging Japanese fighter Kazuto Ioka in 2011.

On the same day as Oleydong's debut we saw another Thai in action, Pongsaklek Wonjingkam. Wonjongkam, the long reigning Flyweight champion Wonjongkam recorded the 5th defence his title in just over 18 months as he defeated Jesus Martinez with a 12 round unanimous decision. Strangely Martinez had gotten this bout following back-to-back losses in Mexico though it helped keep Wonjongkam busy and his reign is, of course, one of the greatest title reign in recent years.

(Image, of Hisashi Teraji, courtesy of boxrec.com)

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