TOKYO -- Shoji Oguma of Japan successfully defended his World Boxing Council flyweight title Tuesday on a bloody 15-round majority decision over South Korean challenger Park Chan Hee.
There were no knockdowns in the fight, Oguma's second defense of a title he took from Park last May.
The 29-year-old champion suffered cuts over both eyes in the third round, forcing the boxing commission doctor to examine the injuries. He was allowed to continue, even though his cuts bled profusely, and staged a late rally to win the cards of two American Judges.
Charles Hassett and Duane Ford scored the fight 145-141 and 145-140, respectively, for the champion. Another American judge, Harold Buck, had it even at 143-143.
An over-capacity crowd of about 3,200, including many Koreans, cheered as both fighters exchanged blows toe-to-toe throughout the fight.
Park, the WBC's No. 3 contender who lost his crown to Oguma on a ninth round knockout in Seoul last spring, also dropped a split decision to the Japanese fighter in a return title fight last October.
The South Korean was the aggressor in the early rounds, scoring with combinations to Oguma's head and body.
Park, 23, started quickly by rushing the champion in the first round. In the second, Park sent swift left and right punches to the champion's face and body, forcing Oguma to backpedal.
Oguma made his move in the eighth round, cutting Park around the left ear. The challenger appeared to tire in the 11th round and the last three rounds were clearly Oguma's.
Oguma first won the WBC flyweight title from Betulio Gonzalez of Venezuela in October, 1974, but lost it to Miguel Canto of Mexico in his first defense in January, 1975.
Both fighters weighed in at the class limit of 112 pounds.
