Masayuki Kuroda Grabs Close Call Over Hayato Yamaguchi

By Hisao Adachi

At the beautiful Kawasaki Todoroki Arena, which is sandwiched between Tokyo and Yokohama, the Nitta Boxing Gym, whose president is former OPBF (Boxing Federation of East and Pacific) bantamweight champion, Shosei Nitta, staged a big holiday show.

In the ten round main event for the Japanese flyweight championship, WBA #10 and WBC #12 world ranked Masayuki Kuroda (21-3, 13KOs, 25 years old and Nitta Kawasaki Boxing Gym) won a ten round majority decision (97-94, 96-94, 94-95) over #10 ranked challenger Hayato Yamaguchi  (7-3-1. 22 years of age and Tokyo 10 Count Team). Kuroda retains his title for the second time. Kuroda had a lot of troubles and hardships with the younger Yamaguchi, who dominated the fight during the first half of the contest.

Kuroda was recently appointed as the Ambassador of Goodwill Industries in Kawasaki City's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.