Japan’s Yamanaka retains crown with first-round KO

AFP/Tokyo

It was undefeated Yamanaka’s fourth defence of the title, which he won in 2011 by an 11th-round technical knockout of Mexico’s Christian Esquivel.

Left-handed Yamanaka went out fighting from the opening bell, taking on the number-eight WBC contender with both hands.

After two minutes, Yamanaka had his challenger in a corner and connected a straight left to the face.

The Puerto Rican fell down and referee Bruce McTavish counted him out with 20 seconds left in the round.

“I may sound arrogant but I honestly really wanted to fight a little more,” the 30-year-old champion said before a roaring crowd at the Ota gymnasium. “I wanted to show a little more to the crowd.”

Yamanaka’s record improved to 19 wins, 14 of them by knockout, and two draws.

For Nieves, 32, it was his third loss against 22 wins, 11 of them inside the distance, and three draws.

“It didn’t carry much steam but I fell probably because it was a good punch,” the Puerto Rican said of the straight left that sank him. “I couldn’t see it coming so I guess it had speed.”

Japan’s Akira Yaegashi made the first successful defence of his flyweight title yesterday with a unanimous points decision over Mexican challenger Oscar Blanquet.

Yaegashi, 30, used his speed to try to catch Blanquet, while the Mexican relied on his reach advantage to keep the champion at bay. 

But as the fight wore on the Japanese connected with a number of body blows, and a straight right in the eighth round put his opponent on the canvas.

“I fought in a way that was far from perfect. I have a lot of things to improve. I must work harder, otherwise I cannot keep on winning,” Yaegashi said. “I am still an untested champion but I want your warm support.”

At the end of the fourth round, the two fighters were even at 39-37, 37-39, 38-38, but after the half-way point Yaegashi’s body blows began to connect and wear the challenger. In the eighth round, Canadian referee Len Koivisto slapped Yaegashi with a one-point penalty for a low blow.

But with 10 seconds left Yaegashi floored Blanquet with a straight right for an eight count.

At the end of the round the Japanese was ahead on points 76-74, 77-73 and 77-73.

The Mexican chased with wide-swinging punches but the champion countered with right hooks to keep the points gap intact. After 12 rounds, American judge Don Griffin and Thai judge Noppharat Sricharoen identically scored it 116-110, while South Korean Lim Jun-Bae carded it 115-111.

The win stretched Yaegashi’s record to 18 wins, nine of them by knockout, with three defeats.

For Blanquet, 28, it was his sixth loss against 32 wins, 23 of them inside the distance, and one draw.

Yaegashi, who stepped up two divisions since reigning as a World Boxing Association minimum weight champion, won the flyweight title in April by outpointing fellow Japanese Toshiyuki Igarashi.