## KIYOTA BARELY KEEPS OPBF 168LB BELT

July 7, 2015

TOKYO, JAPAN

WBO#14/IBF#15 OPBF super-middleweight champ Yuzo Kiyota (28-4-1, 26 KOs), 168, barely kept his regional belt as he survived a second round knockdown, fought back hard and finally caught Thailandfs Kajornsak Sithsaithong (13-8, 9 KOs), 168, en route to a TKO victory at 0:52 of the tenth round on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Having failed to win the WBO super-middle belt from Robert Stieglitz via tenth round stoppage in Germany in July 2013, the muscular Japanese decked five wins in a row but we had never seen Kiyota in such a poor form. He looked sluggish and slow in earlier rounds, and took a standing eight count when Kajornsak sent him staggering to the ropes midway in round two. Kiyota attempted to utilize his footwork and keep his distance, but occasionally absorbed the shorter Thailanderfs overhand rights. But Kiyota finally had the tide turn as he floored Kajornsak on the seat of trunks in the ninth session and swarmed over him in the eleventh, when decked him twice and flattened him with his face down to the canvas. The ref promptly declared a halt.

Promoter: Flash Akabane Promotions.

(7-7-2015)

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