## FILIPINO MAXIAN DETHRONES SAITO

March 15, 2013

TOKYO, JAPAN

Unheralded Filipino Joe Maxian (8-2, 6 KOs), 135, surprisingly captured the WBC youth lightweight belt as he was far behind on points and then scored a fine come-from-behind knockout over defending champ Tsukasa Saito (16-2, 11 KOs), 135, at 2:48 of the seventh round on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. The light-punching but fast-moving Japanese Saito was controlling the contest with his speed and skills against the slower flat-footed Filipino challenger. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated: all 39-37 in favor of Saito, a year his senior at 22. But Maxian, like a magician, showed a trick with his furious and ferocious retaliation in the fatal session. Saito badly hit the deck to be unable to beat the count. Rex Walker, the chairman of the WBC youth championship committee from Texas, was in attendance at the Hall.

Promoter: Katsumata Promotions.

(3-15-2013)

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