ISLE FILE
Super Brawl champ Inoue retires after win
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i's Egan Inoue made it official last night — he's retiring from Super Brawl fighting after defeating Martin de Jong of Holland by technical knockout in the first round at Blaisdell Arena.
The middleweight champion caught de Jong with a roundhouse kick to the head, ending the fight after 2 minutes, 33 seconds.
Inoue, 37, finished his Super Brawl career with a 15-3 record.
The former world racquetball and Jiu-Jitsu champion said earlier in the week that this would be his final fight "unless I lose."
He said he will focus on his new job as a pharmaceutical salesman.
VOLLEYBALL
• Team USA 0-2: Defending champion Team USA fell to 0-2 in FIVB World Grand Prix pool play, losing to China in three games Saturday in Chengdu. China out-blocked the U.S. 14-6.
Tara Cross-Battle had 11 kills for the U.S., which is 0-2 in Pool B. Former University of Hawai'i All-American Heather Bown scored six points, as did Stanford All-American Logan Tom.
"Tonight's match showed how a team can not only be beat from across the net, but how important chemistry and trust is to winning," said Bown, who had two kills, two blocks and two aces. "Without it, the team falls apart and what happened tonight occurs. ... Hopefully we can finish out this week on an up note with a good game against Cuba."
Bown scored 19 points in Friday's 25-23, 12-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-9 loss to Russia.
The World Grand Prix, now in its 10th year, is the premier annual tournament for women's volleyball, with more than $1 million in prize money.
• Metzger, Wong advance: Punahou graduates Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong advanced to the semifinals of FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour stop in Montreal, Canada, yesterday.
The 10th-seeded Metzger and Wong upset top seeds Tande Ramos and Emanuel Rego, 25-23 and 21-15, in the quarterfinals. Earlier, they beat Eric Fonoimoana and Dax Holdren in three games.
Metzger and Wong will play No. 3 seeds Jose Loiola and Ricardo Santos today.
FUNERAL
• Yempuku services: Funeral services for sports promoter and war hero Ralph Yempuku will be held 6 p.m. Thursday at Honpa Hongwanji Hawai'i Betsuin.
Inurnment will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Yempuku, who promoted sumo, boxing, roller derby, basketball and musical events, died July 9 at 88.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Hawai'i Foundation for the Varsity Victory Volunteers Scholarship Fund. Yempuku was a member of the Varsity Victory Volunteers — a group of Nisei soldiers who served at Schofield Barracks during World War II.
Aloha attire is requested.
Yempuku is survived by sons, Roy Y. Yempuku and Earl M. Yempuku, six grandchildren and brothers, Paul Yempuku and Toru Empuku.
MEETING
• QB Club: John Fink, president and general manager of KHNL and KFVE, will be the featured speaker at tomorrow's weekly meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club at the Pagoda Hotel. Fink will discuss his station's new sports broadcast contract with the University of Hawai'i.
Ralph Martin, president of USA Boxing-Hawai'i, and Pacific Blast women's pro football players Debra Wicks and Vicki Cozy will also speak.
Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., with the program following at noon.
