Masashi Kudo 'Strength and Stamina'

WBA Boxing Report

June 30, 1979

WBA Light-Middleweight Champion Masashi Kudo (Japan) retained his Championship last
night by TKO 12 over #3 WBA Challenger Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina).

The bout was held at the Yokkaichi City Gymnasium in Mie, Japan. A sell-out
crowd of 3800 cheered their countryman Kudo on, as the Champion put on a
strong-charge in the 10th and 11th Rounds. Gonzalez who had built up a solid
lead on the Scorecards through 9 rounds, faded badly as his legs appeared to
give out from Masashi Kudo's pressure and body attack.

Round 10, The WBA's 'Round of the Year' saw both fighters battle back-and-forth
with a volley of punches, as each fighter was hurt twice in the round. In
Round 11, the Champion used his strength adavantage to dominate the
fading Gonzalez. The Argentinian staggered back to his corner on wobbling legs
the end of the round after a strength-sapping 3-minute battle.

As Round 12 began, the weary Challenger walked in a daze to ring-center to continue,
but his corner threw in the towell immediately when they realized that their worn-down
fighter was in no condition to continue.

Referee Stanley Christodoulou called a halt to the matters at 0:09 of the 12th Round.
Masashi Kudo retained his WBA Championship for the 3rd time.

The Scorecards at the time of the stoppage,
Referee, Stanley Christodoulou......107-106 (4-3-4 in rounds) Masashi Kudo
Judge, Guillermo Boussa............... 108-108 (2-2-7 in rounds) Even
Jude, Jesus Celis.........................108-107 (3-2-6 in rounds) Manuel R. Gonzalez

Boxing Writer at Ringside, Tomas Fernandez had Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez with a
wide lead on his Scorecard at the time of the stoppage 108 -104 (6-2-3 in rounds).

Japanese Promoter, Munekatsu Kawaragi released the fight purses in U.S. Dollars.
Masashi Kudo received $120,000.
Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez received $75,000.

Note: Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez also received an additional $25,000 for the television broadcast rights to
South America, Central America and North America.

Note; CBS-Sports Television in the United States paid for the delayed broadcast rights of this bout.
U.S. Dollar figures were not disclosed.

 

Did you know,,,,,,,,

Masashi Kudo was an excellent amateur wrestler.
In 1972, was the #2 Ranked 68 kg (149.5 lb.) Grappler in Japan.

Lost in the Japan Pre-Olympic National Wrestling Tournament.

Was defeated twice by, Kikou Wada in the Best 2 out of 3 Finals.

How good was Kikou Wada as a wrestler. He made it to the Gold Medal Championship
Finals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany.

He lost 0 to 6, to the great Dan Gable of the United States.

Kikou Wada was awarded the Silver Medal at 68 kg.

 

Flea Man,,,,,,,,

Kikou Wada,,,,,,,,,,,,was one 'Friggin Tough Grappler'

Nobody beat him in Freestyle Wrestling in the Eastern Hemishpere at
68 kg, and that includes all the Asians, Russians and Europeans.

Only losses in 3 years, a few times to Dan Gable, and twice to 'Masashi Kudo'.

Tells you, that Masashi Kudo would have been the 'Kick Your Ass Champion' in the MMA'
at Lightweight (155 lbs.)

 

Flea Man,

I Am,

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Back to Masashi,,,,,,,,,,,,

July 1979

Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez filed a complaint with the WBA Grievance Supervisor,
Ron Hayter from Canada, asking for a rematch (third bout) with WBA Champion Masashi Kudo.

His charge, that Masahi Kudo had purposely head-butted him in the nose numerous
times throughout the June 30, 1979 Championship bout, and did not receive one warning
or any point deduction from Referee Stanley Christodoulou.

Manuel R. Gonzalez, who was clearly ahead on points was intentionally butted
by Masashi Kudo in the 8th round, causing a broken nose.

The damaged nose bothered Gonzalez throughout the last 3 rounds, and affected
his performance. Continued head-first charges by the Champion were aimed
directly at the Challenger's nose.

Manuel R. Gonzalez's claim, is that Masashi Kudo should have been 1) warned for the head-butts,
2) penalized points on '4' separate occassions and 3) disqualified either in the 9th, 10th or 11th rounds.

The #3 WBA Challenger, also stated, that his breathing was affected, causing him to
quickly lose stamina in the final rounds of the bout. Gonzalez stated in his
letter, 'these were intentionally aimed butts by a head-first charge from Kudo,
to hurt me'. Gonzalez added, 'Masashi was so far behind in points after the 8th round,
the only way he could win was by knocking me out or hurting me intentionally'.

Gonzalez said in an interview, 'Masashi Kudo, he can't punch that hard, so he took the easy way,
by head-butting me. If you look at the tape of the fight, you can see he didn't win one round until the
10th round. Even in the 9th round, when he head-butted my nose again and hurt me, I still
came back and won the round,,,,,,,,,,and nearly I floored him.'

'I was in real pain in the 10th and 11th rounds, but I still fought with courage. I asked the Referee to
warn him, but the South African did nothing. At the start of the 12th round, I could not go on,
as my nose was numb and my legs were weary from not getting enough oxygen.
I hope they offer me another fight. I beat him the first time, and they made him give me a
rematch. I know Ayub Kalule and Emiliano Villa are lined up next, but I should be in the mix.'

 

October, 1979

'Masashi Kudo To Defend WBA Title Against Ugandan'

WBA Light-Middleweight Champion Masashi Kudo will attempt to defend his Title
for the 4th time, on Wednesday Night at the City Gymnasium in Akita City.

Masashi Kudo, the 28 year-old from Japan is undefeated in 23-bouts, with 12 knock-outs.
He will be facing the #1 WBA Challenger, Ayub Kalule of Denmark. The 25 year-old
Kalule is a Ugandan living in Copenhagen, and has been fighting out of that country since 1976.

Mr. Kalule is also undefeated, and has 30 wins with 17 knock-outs. This Title fight is
a WBA Mandatory Defense. The bout is highly anticipated, as Kalule is regarded
by many in boxing as the best 154 lb. fighter in the world.

The Championship bout will be promoted by Munekatsu Kawaragi.

Fight purses released by the promoter are in U.S. Dollars.
Masashi Kudo $150,000
Ayub Kalule $50,000

 

October 24, 1979

"Masashi Kudo's Reign Ends, Champion Loses Title'

Masashi Kudo, WBA Light-Middleweight Champion was defeated last
night by Ayub Kalule of Denmark, by a 15-Round unanimous decision.

Kudo, from Akita City, where the fight was held at the City Gymnasium
was cheered by his hometown fans. 4000 spectators were on hand, to
see if the undefeated Champion could defend his WBA Lightweight Championship
for the 4th time.

What Masashi Kudo found, was a 'brilliant boxer' in Ayub Kalule, who utilzed his
superior boxing skills as well as a tactical fight plan, which included sharp right
jabs, straight left hand counters and slick footwork.

While many of the boxing experts said that the Ugandan (now living in Denmark)
would dominate the limited skilled Kudo with ease, many were suprised as the Champion
scored with solid right-hand leads.

Evidence of that was in the 1st Round, as though Ayub Kalule won the round on the
scorecards with good general boxing skills and sharp right jabs, Masashi came back
with his own right hand leads and proved he could stay with the talented southpaw.
If anything, Kudo showed he was going to be no easy opponent for the favored
Challenger.

Though out-boxed over the first third of the fight, Masashi Kudo brought the
City Gymnasium crowd to their feet, as he staggered the Challenger at the
end of the 5th Round with a big right-hand counter punch that nearly floored
the Ugandan.

That same scenario played out for much of the 15-Round battle, as the powerful
Kalule scored repeatedly thoughout the fight with his 'patented' right jab, and
the physical Kudo would throw occassional heavy right-hand counters when
an opening was available.

In Round 13, the Challenger had the Champion reeling from a volume of punches,
and Masashi did appear stunned near the end of the round. Kalule landed a smashing
left hand that hurt Kudo, and as he moved in to follow up, the Champion bent down to
avoid the punch and fell to the canvas. Though it appeared that Kudo went down
for the first time in his career, Referee Robert Ferrara ruled it a push, as the
Round came to an end.

Scorecards as follows;
Referee, Robert Ferrara...........149-139 (11-1-4 in rounds) Ayub Kalule
Judge; Harold Ledderman.........146-139 (11-4-0 in rounds) Ayub Kalule
Judge; Tim Kelleher.................149-145 (5-1-9 in rounds) Ayub Kallue

WBA Representative Bill Miller was the observer for the sanctioning body.

Ring Magazine scored the fight for Ayub Kalule 148-138 (12-2-1 in rounds)

Fight purses released in U.S. Dollars
Masashi Kudo $150,000
Ayub Kalue $50,000

Note: Ayub Kalule also received payment for the Television broadcast rights
to the African Continent, Scandanavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
and all British Commonwealth Nations.

 

Flea Man,,,,,,

Ayub Kalue,,,,,,,,As great as he was as a professional, he was much better as
an amateur.

Would have been a great match-up versus Wilfed Benitez in 1980.

Trying to locate all the round-by-round scorecards of the officials and Ring Magazine
of the Masashi Kudo vs. Ayub Kalule bout.

What I found so far, Ring Magazine, had Rounds 1 and 2 and 13 for Kalule,, and
Round 5 for Kudo.

Kalule staggered Kudo 'three times' early in the 2nd Round, but Kudo again came back
at the end of the round with several good right hand bombs, that landed right on the button.

Masashi no slouch, he looks physically bigger than Kalue, was the harder puncher, and
his foot-speed was equal to the 'Great Uganadan'.

Ayub Kalule lands a left-hand lead on Masashi Kudo.

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