Masashi Kudo 'Strength and Stamina'

Red,,,,,,,

Boxing Illustrated labeled Ayub Kalule, The Great Ugandan,,,,,,,check it out in
several of the 1979 magazines, after he won the WBA Light-Middleweight title.

As for Masashi Kudo, nobody said he was a 'skilled boxer'. What he was, was a
physically strong fighter with limited boxing skills.

He was an amateur wrestler, who turned to professional boxing with 'zip' amateur
boxing experience.

He accomplished a hell of alot in a short time.

Do your 'homework' before you start criticizing anyone,,,,,,,,

That's like me saying the 'Red Rooster' is really the 'Crimson ****'..........

 

December 13, 1978
Osaka, Japan

Masashi Kudo *WBA Light-Middleweight Champion (20-0-0) (11 KO's)
vs.
Ho Joo #6 WBA Light-Middleweight / OPBF Light-Middleweight Champion (23-0-1) (12 KO's)

How did we get here...

WBA President, Mandry Galindez, approves the Masahi Kudo vs. Ho Joo bout,
for December 13, 1978. Funny-money exchanges hands, and the bout is sanctioned.

Though Ho Joo is rated #6, he leap-frogs over the #1 mandatory challenger, 'The Great Ugandan'
Ayub Kalule, who has been the #1 WBA Light-Middleweight since November 1977.

Ho Joo, has loaded up his record with a glossary of wins over Class B-level Japanese and South Korean
Light-Middleweights. His only win of importance, an upset (KO 10) over former WBA Light-Middleweight
Champion, the then #4 WBA-rated Jae-Doo Yuh on July 6, 1978.

The 29 year-old South Korean, is a muscular 5' 10" boxer-puncher, with an orthodox-stance.
He has a good left jab, and a wicked-quick left hook. Power-level is average, but he does have
good hand-speed. Can be hit, but has shown the ability to take a good shot.
The book on him, he likes to be agressive and stay on the offensive. His weakness, is
defense, as he tends to leave himself open and does walk into punches,
relying on his granite chin too much.

In his last bout, on July 20, 1978 Ho Joo was held to a (Draw 12) versus Japan's
Tsutomo Hagusa, in his defense of the OPBF Light-Middleweight Title.
It is the only blemish on his undefeated record.

Ho Joo was scheduled to defend his OPBF Title versus Jae-Keum Lim on October 14, 1978
but he opted out for a chance at the WBA Title versus Masashi Kudo.

 

Mr. Flea,,,,,,,,,

Check out the article I found in the Oriental Boxing News,,,,,,,from a long time ago.

The first three short sentences have been modified, to help the viewers understand what was going on
in the WBA.

Previous Post.

 

December 13, 1978

'Kudo Defends WBA Title Over Unbeaten Challenger'

Masashi Kudo successfully defended his WBA Light-Middleweight
Championship last night with a Split-Decision over unbeaten South Korean
Challenger, Ho Joo.

Over 8000 fight fans attended the bout, held at The Prefectual Gym in Osaka,
Japan. The pro-Kudo crowd cheered, as the Champion mounted a strong
charge throughout the bout, forcing the taller Challenger to back-up and
fight a counter-punching style, something he was not comfortable with.

Ho Joo, the #6 WBA-rated Light Middleweight, had come in to the ring,
with a reputation as hard puncher, but he was unable to catch the Champion
with any hard blows.
Both fighters had entered the ring undefeated, a unique entrance to a boxing
match. But it was Masashi Kudo who left the ring as the better fighter.

The fight results were read as a Split-Decision, leading to questions about the
scoring. American Referee Paul Field and Japanese Judge Ryoji Kshigawa scored the bout
correctly for the Champion, but South Korean Judge Ik-Sun Cho had it scored
for his countryman, Ho Joo.

Scorecards;
Referee; Paul Field,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,148-144 (6-2-7 in Rounds) Masashi Kudo
Judge; Ryoji Kashigawa,,,,,,,,,,,,149-144 (6-1-8 in Rounds) Masashi Kudo
Judge; Ik-Sun Cho,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,148-145 (5-2-8 in Rounds) Ho Joo

WBA Officials are looking into suspending Judge Ik-Sun Cho from further
Judging of a WBA sanctioned bout. It was apparent from the boxing press
and those at Ringside that the Champion was a clear winner. Though
many of the rounds were close, it was hard to score more than 3 Rounds for
the South Korean.

Boxing Writer at Ringside, Rocky Ishawa scored the bout 148-144 (6-2-7 in Rounds)
for the Champion. Mr. Ishawa scored rounds 2,3,5,7,10 and 12 for Masashi Kudo,
and only rounds 1 and 6 for the South Korean. The other 7 rounds were scored even.

Masashi Kudo improves to 21-0-0.
Ho Joo loses for the first time in his professional career, and drops to 23-1-1.

Promoters release fight purse figures in U.S. Dollar amounts.
* Masashi Kudo $95,000
* Ho Joo $35,000

Masashi, making his first defense of the title he won in August, plans on
making another defense in 3-months.

 

March 14, 1979

Masashi Kudo, WBA Light-Middleweight Champion to make 2nd Defense of
his Championship versus Argentinian Manuel Gonzalez.

Masashi Kudo from Japan posts a record of 21-0-0 (11 KO's). He will
be defending his title at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Manuel Gonzalez, the #5 WBA rated Light-Middleweight is undefeated in 47-bouts,
with a record of 43-0-4. The 26 year-old Gonzalez will be participating in his
first professional bout outside of his homeland of Argentina.

The odds-makers have this listed this as an Even-betting fight. Gonzalez owns
the Light-Middleweight Championship of Argentina and also the South American title.
The 5' 8" fighter, is a classic straight-ahead boxer with a good left jab, but does not
possess much power, as he only has 12 Knock-out wins in his 47 ring appearances.

Masashi Kudo, not high on skills, is a physical fighter, with immense courage and
tremendous stamina. Though Masashi has 11 knock-outs in his 21 wins,
Kudo is not regarded as a hard-puncher.

Attendance at the Kokugikan Arena is expected to be 10,000 for tonights Championship Bout.

WBA Executive, Bill Miller will be at ringside as an observer and sanctioning body supervisor.
Ayub Kalule of Denmark, the #1 WBA Light-Middleweight has filed a protest with the WBA.

 

March 15, 1979

'Masashi Kudo Retains Title By A Controversial Decision'

WBA Light-Middleweight Champion, Japan's Masashi Kudo was awarded
a horrendous 15-Round Majority-Decision over Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez
last night at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Even the Japan Boxing Press and OPBF Representatives felt that the
Argentinian challenger earned the victory over the ineffective WBA Champion.

The WBA representative, Bill Miller from the United States is said to be
looking into the bizarre scorecards from the Referee and '2' judges.

Japanese Judge, Ken Morita had scored the bout 148-147 for Masashi Kudo.
Amazingly, Morita scored an incredible 10 rounds Even on his scorecard.

The other Judge, Carlos Berrocal of Panama, of Central America, scored the
bout 146-144 for the Champion as well. Berrocal, did not score one round for
Gonzalez after the 5th round, and had 5 of the last 9 rounds Even on his card.

Referre, Luis Sulburan of Venezuela, scored the bout 146-146 Even.
In rounds, Sulburan's card read 4 to 4 each for the Champion and Challenger,
but he did score an amazing 7 rounds Even.

What is odd, is that the two Latin American officials did not score what
appeared to be a sound decision win for South American Manuel R. Gonzalez.

A representative for the OPBF (Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation) scored the
bout for the Challenger Gonzalez by a wide-margin 146-142 or 8-4-3 in rounds.

Bill Miller, said, 'he was in total shock at the result, and is embarrassed for
the World Boxing Association'.

Promoters release fight purses in U.S. Dollar amounts.
* Masashi Kudo $115,000
* Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez $55,000

Note: Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez received an additional $20,000 for the broadcast rights to
South America, Central America and North America.

 

Thanks D9,,,,,,,,

Just posting some good information from 'real fights',,

Like You,,,,,,,,,those 'theoretical fights', are 'mind bouts'.

How about,,,,,,,,,George Foreman vs. Pone Kingpetch....atsch

 

March 1979

WBA Ratings Press Release (Light-Middleweight)

* - Masashi Kudo.........22-0-0 (11 KO's)......WBA Light-Middleweight Champion
1 - Ayub Kalule............26-0-0 (17 KO's)
2 - Gert Steyn.............28-3-2 (14 KO's)......South African Light Middleweight Champion
3 - Manuel R. Gonzalez..43-1-4 (12 KO's)......Argentina and South American Light-Middleweight Champion
4 - Rocky Mosley Jr......26-4-1 (13 KO's).......U.S.B.A. Light-Middleweight Champion
5 - Rocky Mattioli.........53-4-2 (40 KO's).......Former WBC Light-Middleweight Champion
6 - Marijan Benes.........15-1-0 (7 KO's).........European Light-Middleweight Champion
7 - Jae-Keum Lim.........20-4-1 (17 KO's).......OPBF Light-Middleweight Champion
8 - Eddie Gazo.............38-5-2 (20 KO's).......Former WBA Light-Middleweight Champion
9 - Kenji Shibata..........23-5-3 (13 KO's).......Japanese Light-Middleweight Champion
10-Emiliano Villa...........33-5-3 (16 KO's).......Columbian Light-Middleweight Champion

WBA Result News (Light-Middleweight)

Champion Masashi Kudo who fought a controversial bout with #5 Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez on March 14, 1979
will be forced to have a rematch, to be scheduled sometime in May or June.

Ayub Kalule remains at #1, with several wins including a KO 2 over Ho Joo on February 15, 1979.
Ho Joo who was rated at #7 at the time of the that bout, falls out of the Top 10.

Gert Steyn from South Africa, remains at #2 with an impressive win over #8 WBA Middleweight, Elijah Makathini
on February 12, 1970 in South Africa.

Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez moves up from #5 to #3, after his performance versus the Champion Masshi Kudo.

Rocky Mosley Jr. from the United States moves up from #6 to #4, as he defended his USBA Light-Middleweight
Championship with a shocking knock-out (KO 1) over Ray Phillips on March 2, 1979.

Rocky Mattioli of Australia enters the WBA ratings at #5. Mattioli just lost his WBC Light-Middleweight Title
to Maurice Hope on March 4, 1979.

Marijan Benes of Yugoslavia enters the Top 10 at #6, with an impressive win (KO 4) over #8 Gilbert Cohen to win
the European Light-Middleweight title on March 17, 1979.

Jae-Keum Lim from South Korea falls from #4 to #7. Lim last fought on November 18, 1978, and
fought a (Draw 12) with Kenji Shibata for the OPBF Light-Middlweight Title.

Eddie Gazo falls 5-notches from #3 to #8. The former WBA Champion has been inactive since losing the title to
Masashi Kudo on August 8, 1978.

Kenji Shibata remains at #9. Last fought on November 18, 1978 (Draw 12) versus Jae-Kim Lim

Emiliano Villa enters the Top 10, at the final spot after winning the Columbian Light-Middleweight Title.

Falling Out of the Ratings;
#7 Ho Joo.............. (Lost KO 2) to Ayub Kalule 2/15/79
#8 Gilbert Cohen...... (Lost KO 4) to Marijan Benes 3/17/79
#10 Edgar Ross.........(Lost KO 10) to Tony Chiaverini 3/16/79