From F i g h t n e w s Mexican star Fernando Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs), 118, astoundingly captured the WBC bantamweight throne as he came back from a losing pace, abruptly exploded vicious left hooks and badly hurt defending champ Hozumi Hasegawa (28-3, 12 KOs), 117.75, a Japanese hero making his eleventh defense, to cause the referees intervention at 2:59 of the fourth round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Hasegawa, a Japanese southpaw, was dominating the proceedings thanks to his advantageous speed, as shown by the official tallies: Duane Ford (US) 30-27, Steve Morrow (US) and Daniel Van de Wiele (Belgium) both 29-28, all for the WBC champ. Positively stalking the retreating Montiel, Hasegawa might become a little too careless to avert the Mexicans compact but effective countering left hooks. Hasegawas legs looked gone, as he momentarily became stationary with his back to the ropes, while Montiel kept raining a fusillade of punches to the groggy Japanese. The ref Laurence Cole declared a halt to save Hasegawa from further punishment just a second remaining in the fatal fourth.
Interesting. He looked both vulnerable and then dangerous. Will that mean that he is now avoided or sought after?
Hasegawa was dominating that fight up until that point. I think if he was able to survive that round, he would have won. He was really starting to get to Montiel at that point.
He was taking a lot of clean head shots. The ref did the right thing. Even if the bell had rung I seriously doubt he would have survived the next round.
No, Montiel started to find his timing and started picking up the pace. Hasegawa was defensless with his arm caught on the rope, good stoppage.
Did you not see how Hasegawa was tangled in the ropes, defensless??? I'm amazed at how sadistic some people are, so you want to see idividuals beaten to an inch of their life? The ref did the right thing, so Hasegawa would not suffer a serious injury and fight another day.
i´m not going to take anything from Montiel.. phenomenal shots and a big win but as strange as it is my thoughts were that the Japanese recovered even while he was on the ropes and took some more shots lol but started to try some movements. He didnt really look like a hurt fighter shortly after the stoppage. I thought if Montiel had gone in wide open by the opening bell the next round he would have got ko´d himself or the Japanese would have made use of is great footwork and the fight would have gone on like it went the rounds before anytime soon.. however if you act like Hasegawa you cant complain about the stoppage no matter about the clock..
:admin The ref was way too late! Hasegawa took an absolute pounding against the ropes! Anyway a fine, highly skilled fight with a sudden and shocking ending. Would love to see them do it again.
