Johnny Sato,,,,,,,'The Cebu City Flash' From Cebu City, The Philippines. This content is protected Johnny Sato, a 5' 4" hard-punching southpaw, with a 67' reach. Turned professional in 1974, at age 19. Started his career as a 112 b. Flyweight Went 'undefeated' in his first '9' bouts with a record of 9-0-0 (7 KO's), as he showed incredible punching power for a Flyweight. But on August 1, 1975, Johnny was 'defeated' in an '8-Rounder' by another 'undefeated' Flyweight Ben Estallo 11-0-0. But the 'Cebu City Flash' returned by scoring '4' straight wins and improved to 13-1-0 (8 KO's), and moved up to 118 lbs. as a Bantamweight. But on May 1, 1976 in a bout with 'undefeated' Bantamweight - Arnel Arrozal 15-0-0, Johhny lost a '10 Round Split-Decision'. On July 1, 1976 - in a rematch with Arnel Arrozal 16-1-0, Johnny again lost a '10-Round Split-Decision'. The losses dropped 'The Cebu City Flash' to 13-3-0. In an important bout on September 4, 1976 - Johnny lost again, in a hard-fought 10-Rounder to another 'slick boxing' undefeated fighter Noel Arriesgado 23-0-0, and the 'Philippine Flash' dropped to 13-4-0. Despite the losses, his team still believed the 21 year-old could still make it to the 126 lb. Championship. Johnny then went on a '6-bout' winning streak, and by December 1977 improved to 19-4-0 (11 KO's) and the 'Cebu City Flash' was ranked as the #25 WBC Featherweight. On December 31, 1977, 22 year-old Johnny Sato took on - 20 year-old countryman Rolando 'Bad Boy' Navarette 21-5-2 (10 KO's). In a 'brutal battle', the 5' 4" Sato withstood the heavy counter-punches of Rolando Navarette in the early rounds, to batter the 'Bad Boy' in the 'middle rounds, and eventually stop him by a TKO 8. At 20-4-0 (12 KO's), Johnny Sato was in line for a possible 'non-title' bout with one of the Featherweight Champions.
Mr. Kiki,,,,,,,,,,,Johnny was actually called the 'Cebu City Flash', in respect to Flash Elorde, which I fathom was Johnny's Hero. A follow up win (W Dec 10) over Tony Jumao-As in February 1978 - put Johnny at the #20 WBC Featherweight. By May 1978 - Johnny Sato 21-4-0 (12 KO's) had an outside chance, of getting a bout with one of the Featherweight Champions, but he lost a 10-Round Decision to Philippine Featherweight Champion, 'veteran' Nene Jun in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. May 13, 1978.........L Dec 10...Nene Jun The 'loss' dropped Johnny to 21-5-0. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ But Johnny came back again, and from June 1978 thru September 1979 'The Cebu City Flash' went undefeated in '10' bouts, by going 8-0-2 (6 KO's), including wins over, * (KO 5) - Nardito Adrayan * (KO 5) - Max Boy Toyogon * (KO 7) - Nitoy Bantilan * June 22, 1979 - Johnny Sato 'upsets' (W Dec 12) over Ryu Fukita the (OPBF Super-Featherweight Champion) By September 1979 - Johnny Sato had upped his record to 29-5-2 (18 KO's), and jumped up to compete at 130 lbs., in the Super-Featherweight Division.
In 1980, The Cebu City Flash, left The Philippines and moved to Stockton, California. Johnny Sato continued on his streak, and won another '7' straight, improving his record to 36-5-2 (21 KO's) including wins over Top 10 ranked Super-Featherweights * July 16, 1980.............W Dec 10...Antonio Becerra (29-5-0) * November 5, 1980.........KO 8.......Reynaldo Zaragoza (25-1-1) * April 17, 1981..............KO 11......Manuel Abedoy (23-6-2) By May 1, 1981 - Johnny Sato, 'The Cebu City Flash', was now ranked as the #6 WBC Super-Featherweight.
Tuesday Night - May 19, 1981 Blaisdell Center - Honolulu, Hawaii NABF Super-Featherweight Championship and WBC Elimination 12-Round bout. Filipino 130 lb. Super-Featherweights - Johnny 'The Cebu City Flash' Sato and Rolando 'Bad Boy' Navarette will compete for the NABF 130 lb. Championship, with the winner to get a Title Shot versus the WBC Champion - Cornelius Boza-Edwards for sometime in the late-summer. 26 year-old Johnny Sato 36-5-2 (21 KO's) #6 WBC ranked will take on compatriot 24 year-old Rolando Navarette 31-5-2 (18 KO's) #5 WBC ranked, in a battle of hard-punching southpaws. These fighters are familiar with each other, as they have sparred with each other many times, and they fought each other back in December 1977, when they were both 126 lb. Featherweight prospects. Johnny Sato won that encounter, by scoring a TKO 8 victory. Rolando Navarette This content is protected
