## OKADA, TAKAYAMA, HOSONO KEEP JAPANESE BELTS

March 7, 2015

TOKYO, JAPAN

Unbeaten Japanese super-light champ Hiroki Okada (10-0, 8 KOs), 140, impressively retained his national belt when he scored a fine TKO victory over top contender Hayato Hokazono (18-5-1, 11 KOs), 140, an elongated perennial contender, at 2:18 of the third round on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. A head collision in the opening session literally opened a gash on each contestant with the challenger Hokazono profusely streaming blood from the cut over the forehead, which obviously prevented him from fighting with cool head. The referee often had him examined by the ring physician, which gave him an impression that he might be stopped then and there. Hokazono recklessly went forward to finish it and bring home the bacon early, but it wasnft a successful strategy as the champ caught him with a beautiful counter midway in round three, when the third man Tsuchiya declared a well-received halt.

In a companion title go, Japanese welter ruler Suyon Takayama (22-1, 7 KOs), 147, kept his national throne as he came off the canvas after taking a southpaw left of mandatory challenger Hiroyuki Shindo (16-3, 6 KOs), 145.75, in the first session, but came back hard to take an initiative in later rounds, winning a unanimous nod (96-93 twice and 96-94) over ten heats.

Kadoebi Jewel Promotions.

(3-7-2015)

Having failed to win the WBA super-bantam and feather belts on three occasions, Japanese feather champ Satoshi gBazookah Hosono (27-2-1, 20 KOs), 126, successfully retained his national title as he decked top contender Rikiya Fukuhara (30-8-1. 22 KOs), 126, with a left uppercut to the belly in round four and dominated later rounds, winning a unanimous verdict (98-91, 98-92, and 95-94) over ten heats on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

Promoter: Ohashi Promotions.

(3-5-2015)

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