By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Rugged, hard-hitting Federico Catubay failed to knockout Japan’s Noriyuki Komatsu in a battle for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight crown and paid the price, losing by a split decision at the Prefectural Gym in Osaka, Tuesday night.
Korean referee/ judge Jae Tae Kim scored it 115-112 for Komatsu while Japanese judge Ichiro Uenaka gave his countryman the nod 115-111. However, Filipino judge Jonathan Davis had Catubay the winner by a 114-112 margin.
In a telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from the airport on his return from Japan, a disappointed Catubay said he was deducted two points in rounds three and four allegedly for hitting with an open glove as he went after the Japanese. He said he was certain he won the fight but the Korean referee was biased in favor of the Japanese boxer and the two point deduction clearly showed that.
Catubay who is a hard puncher said he never fights like an amateur and didn’t hit Komatsu with an open glove. He said the Japanese ran all fight long which made it difficult for him to knock him out.
It was Catubay’s second unsuccessful attempt to win the OPBF title having earlier lost to Australia’s Hussein Hussein.
With his victory Komatu regained the title he relinquished when he went up against WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in January this year.
Catubay came in some two pounds under the 112 pound limit while the Japanese had to shed off one pound to make the weight.
