33 years ago

Date: 3rd February 1991

Title: WBC World Super-bantamweight Title

Promoter: Matsuda Promotions

Pedro Decima
( 26 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 121 3/4 lbs

Kiyoshi Hatanaka
( 21 - 1 - 1 )
Weight: 122 lbs

WBC world super-bantamweight champion Pedro Decima made the first defence of the title he won from Californian Paul Banke three months earlier when he travelled to Nagoya, Japan to face Kiyoshi Hatanaka who was making his second attempt to win a world title.

The challenger was dropped at the end of the 1st round by a hard right hand and the champion dominated the first three rounds with clever head movement while forcing the pace and consistently landing those hard rights to the head.

In the 4th round, Hatanaka shortened his punches as the champion attacked and landed his own damaging right hands. Decima couldn't seem to avoid Hatanaka's blows and hit the canvas on four occasions, barely surviving the round.

Amazingly, Decima steadied the ship in the 5th round. A small cut appeared by the side of Hatanaka's left eye and the champion may have edged the round with his better boxing.

The challenger was rocked by a Decima right hand in the opening moments of the 6th round and the champion had the Japanese fighter in trouble in his own corner as the round ended.

Once again the tide turned when Hatanaka dropped Decima with a right hand at the one minute mark of the 7th round. When referee Jose Guadalupe finished the eight count, the pair met in centre ring and took turns to rock each other in a great round of boxing.

In the 8th, both took turns to rock one-another and with 10 seconds left in the round Hatanaka dropped the champion who got up and faced the referee with both hands held up signalling that he was ready to continue but the ref waived the fight off, giving the victory to the home fighter.

Hatanaka lost the title in his first defence when Mexican great, Daniel Zaragoza took the title by split decision.