Japanese amputee outpoints Filipino pug in pro debut

Naozumi Tsuchiyama, a 23-year-old Japanese amputee who’s pursuing a boxing career, passed his initial test by scoring a unanimous decision against Filipino Julian Ceniza last Saturday in Bukidnon.

Tsuchiyama, a polio victim who had his left leg amputated when he was barely five years old, displayed a big fighting heart in his pro debut, surviving a knockdown in the second round of the scheduled four-rounder.

During the fight, the Japanese wore a special flesh-colored prosthesis from the knee down.

"It’s a special prosthesis unlike what most people would have in mind. There are no metals to see. They are covered with some sort of fiberglass. From afar, you wouldn’t even notice it. He doesn’t look like a bionic man," said ring physician Nasser Cruz.

Tsuchiyama was in control of the fight when he got caught by a good punch and hit the canvass at the Valencia City Gym. But he quickly got up and continued to dominate Ceniza who was in his second professional bout.

After the verdict was announced, Tsuchiyama drew cheers from the crowd. Most of them even rooted for the Japanese underdog.

Cruz, the newly-appointed boxing division chief of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), was quite impressed with Tsuchiyama’s pro debut.

But he said giving the Japanese a permanent license remains in question.

"What he got from GAB for this fight was a conditional license good only for one bout. So unless he secures another one, he can’t fight. But this early, he’s already asking for a new one. He wants to make a career in boxing," Cruz said.

"He won unanimously. It was a good, clean fight but the Japanese was really able to show his dominance. He did not even look hurt even when he went down. He throws good punches and lands them well," the veteran ring physician said.

Tsuchiyama, who works as a consultant in Bukidnon, is now under the guidance of former WBC junior lightweight champion Rene Barrientos, and reportedly works hard in training.

"He regularly spars. He moves like a good amateur boxer who just turned pro," said Cruz, who just got word that another Japanese amputee is applying for a similar license from GAB, under chairman Eric Buhain.

"Yes, there’s another one. But we have to treat this as a different case. We have to consider his skills and primary safety even before we consider giving him a license," said Cruz.

Granting that they’re fighting in the same division, these two Japanese amputees will certainly make a good matchup.