January 7, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN-Japanese #7 ranked feather, unbeaten formerly six time national high school champ Takahiro Ao (10-0, 6 KOs), 127.5, impressively scored a nearly shutout decision (100-89, 99-89 and 99-88) over much more experienced ex-WBA Fedelatin champ Richard Carillo (24-5, 23 KOs), 128, from Venezuela, over ten heats on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan. Ao, handled by Akihiko Honda, controlled the affair with his sharper southpaw style all the way. He floored the Venezuelan with a well-timed right hook, and then dropped him again with a straight left following a southpaw right hook in the fifth. Ao went all out for an automatic stoppage under the three knockdown rule, but Carillo showed his pride and durability to last the round. Ao, however, sent him to the deck for the third time in the fight with a right-left combo midway in the sixth. Since then, Ao showed his boxing ability and fast footwork to avoid mixing up with the determined opponent. It’s the 21-year-old lefty Ao’s best performance since turning pro in 2003.
Unbeaten ex-national amateur champ Koji Sato (4-0, 4 KOs), 159, collected another victim by knockout when he floored OPBF #5 ranked ex-Korean champ Kwangjin Choi (7-6-1, 6 KOs), 158, at 1:50 of the third round in a scheduled eight. Sato, who hung both hands low, freely battered the slower Korean and decked him twice prior to the well-received stoppage. Yuta Nagai (15-3-2, 10 KOs), 121.25, earned a unanimous nod (80-73 twice and 79-73) over Thai #3 feather Kongsurin Sishsoei (8-12, 4 KOs), 121.25, over eight.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(1-7-05)