Masashi Kudo 'Strength and Stamina'

Masashi Kudo

'The Akita Earthquake'

WBA Junior-Middleweight Champion
August 9, 1978 thru October 24, 1979

Without a doubt, the most physical 154 lb. fighter ever.
A work ethic surpassed by no other.

Compiled a record of 23-1-0 (12 KO's), by using his sheer strength and
unmatched stamina.

While lacking a high-level of boxing skills, made up for it with an 'inner drive'.

Even Pipino Cuevas had no interest in jumping up in weight to challenge
him for the WBA Junior-Middleweight Title in mid-1979.

Only loss, to the 'Great Ugandan' Ayub Kalale (by decision) in his last bout.

 

Woller,,,,,

Good pick up,,,,,,,,I forgot about that Round.

Though Kudo did go down, it was not registered as a 'knockdown' by the referee.

A combination of Kalule's volume of punches, Masashi getting a bit weary, and
a little push from Kalule while Kudo was a little off-balance.

I'm wondering if the round had ended, before Kudo hit the canvas with the seat of his trunks.

 

October 24, 1979

Not sure any other 154 lb. fighter in the world would have been able to
stand up to the Great Ayub Kalule that night.

The effects of what happened at the end of the 13th round, did not appear
to bother Masashi when he got up, as he rose on steady pins. And when he
came out for the 14th, he still had some spring in his legs.

Referee, Robert Ferrera did not score it a knockdown, as he had stated in a
post-fight interview that though Masashi Kudo was stunned, he dipped under
Ayub Kalule's follow up, and the force of Kalule's body forced Masashi down
on to the seat of his pants.

 

Flea Man,,,,,,

Any information out there on the Eddie Gazo vs. Masahi Kudo WBA Junior-Middleweight Championship Bout.

Only information, is that it was held in Akita City, Japan on August 9, 1978

* Eddie Gazo (WBA Champion), 4th Defense of the Title.
* Masahsi Kudo (#3 WBA Rated Junior-Middleweight)

Note: Masashi Kudo was the Japanese (160 lb.) Middleweight Champion. In his 19-bouts,
18 of them were fought at the 160 lb. limit. His only bout at Junior-Middleweight, was his
first professional bout on May 18, 1973.

Note: Kudo had won the Japanese Middleweight Title on March 2, 1975. Over the 3+ years that
he owned the title, he made 10 defenses of the title. That earned him a #8 WBA Rating at Middleweight
in March 1978.

Note: Masashi Kudo was offered the bout versus Eddie Gazo, if he could make the 154 lb. weight
limit. Suprisingly, one-month before the August bout he got rated by the WBA #3 at Junior-Middleweight,
without ever fighting at that level and never defeating a World-class level boxer.

Scorecards;
Judge; Takeo Ugo (Japan),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,147-145 (5-3-7) Masashi Kudo
Judge; Noel Castillo Varej (Nicaragua),,,146-145 (5-4-6) Eddie Gazo
Referee; Marty Denkin (USA),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,146-143 (7-4-4) Masashi Kudo

WBA Scorecard Tally;
* Takeo Ugo..............E K K E G...K K K E G...E E E G E = {5-3-7 Kudo}
* Noel Castillo Varej....G K K E G...K E K E G...E E E G G = {5-4-6 Gazo}
* Marty Denkin...........E K K E G...K K K K G...K E E G G = {7-4-4 Kudo}

Masashi Kudo, 3-weeks shy of his 27th birthday, out-hustled the slow-footed
Eddie Gazo over the early and middle rounds of the fight, to build up a solid lead on the cards,
and emerge with the WBA Junior-Middleweight Title by Split-decision.

Using an awkward two-fisted attack, the former amateur wrestler from Japan
continually pressed the fight in the ring, keeping the 27 year-old Champion on the defensive
throughout the battle. Gazo was limited to a one-punch offense, as he was
unable to break through the tough defense of Kudo.

Kudo continued his swarming and smothering style in the later rounds, which
prevented the taller Eddie Gazo from scoring any telling blows. A frustrated
Gazo tried to mount his usual late charge, but the physical fighter from
Japan would grapple the Champion every time he got close.

Masashi Kudo improves to 20-0-0. He is the Japanese Middlewight Champion,
and was the #8 WBA Middleweight. Before this bout, he lost 6 lbs. to compete
for the Junior-Middleweight Championship. Masashi accepted a $65,000
fight purse for his winning effort.

Eddie Gazo drops to 38-4-2. Eddie said he hoped to get a return bout in Central
America within 6-months. The losing Champion received a $175,000 fight purse
for his title defense.

 

The WBA, at least in the Junior Middleweight Division, had full control
of the players from mid-1975 and on up.

The Japan, South Korean and Central American fight managers and promoters
had to go through the WBA offices in Venezuela.

A little 'payola' on the way didn't hurt either.

As for the 'plodder' Eddie Gazo (Managua, Nicaragua),

He jumped to the head of the class in March 1977, and won the WBA Junior Middleweight
Title by defeating Miguel Castellini.

Do to the unrest in his native land of Nicaragua, he then made '4' defenses in a
row in the Orient, '2' in Japan and '1' in South Korea, and then another in Japan versus Masashi Kudo.

* Koichi Wajima (June 1977)
* Kenji Shibata (September 1977)
* Jae-Keum Lim (December 1977)
* Masashi Kudo {August 1978}

The general rule, give Eddie Gazo a fight purse of $175,000, and he will defend it in the
challengers home country. Some of Gazo's fight purse was kicked back to the top
WBA officials, for sanctioning fee's and 'special expenses', usually $50,000.

Also, the WBA had full control of the Officials, and in all of Eddie Gazo's title defenses,
at least '2' of the officials were of Spanish-decent.

And, of course, some of these challengers mysteriously jumped over other more
qualified fighters (ie; Ayub Kalule), who were forced to wait or were not even considered for
a shot at the title.