WBA bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue 19-1 (5) scored a surprise stoppage win over former IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas 34-4-2 (23) at the Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old Inoue was the favourite going in to the fight, but with a knockout ratio on just over 20%, he was expected to win on points.
The younger brother of pound-for-pound stalwart Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue boxed smartly as expected and was leading on the cards 78-74, 78-74 and 77-75 going into the ninth round when he hammered home a right hand to the body that sunk the 32-year-old Filipino southpaw to the canvas where he was counted out by referee Mark Nelson at the 0:44 mark.
“I was really worried, I didn’t know what to expect,” the Japanese boxer admitted after the fight. “[But] I felt so skilled, so strong, which gave me so much confidence.
“I showed a new side to me moving forward. I’ve so much gratitude to my father [and trainer Shingo Inoue] and brother for all their support.”
In the semi-main event Junto Nakatani 27-0 (20) lifted the WBC bantamweight title from Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago 28-4-5 (14) with a sixth-round knockout to become a three-weight world champion.
The 26-year-old Japanese southpaw was clinical, using his height and reach to walk the 28-year-old Santiago onto punishing power punches.
Santiago was showing wear and tear as early as the third round when a left hand from Nakatani opened a cut over his right eye.
The hurtful combinations from Nakatani continued through to the sixth round when left cross deposited Santiago on the canvas. The champion bravely beat the count but was sent to the deck again, this time courtesy of a right hook.
Santiago’s corner had seen enough and halted the bout with an official time of 1:12.
“I spent many hours training in LA and Japan,” said Nakatani, who won every round on all three judges’ scorecards. “Getting the WBC bantamweight title is such an honor, especially because there are so many boxers who have got it before me.
“I want to fight at bantamweight from now on. Thank you so much for your support.”
Earlier in the night Kosei Tanaka 20-1 (11) became a four-weight world champion when he claimed the vacant WBO super flyweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision win over tough and awkward Mexican Christian Bacasegua 22-5-2 (9) by scores of 116-111, 117,110 and 119-108.
Tanaka controlled much of the action and got better as the fight progressed, scoring a dubious knockdown in the eighth when the 26-year-old Bacasegua’s glove grazed the canvas.
Tanaka previously challenged Kazuto Ioka 32-2-1 (16) for the same title just over three years ago and was stopped in the eighth. The 28-year-old Japanese boxer has been beltless ever since.
“This belt was everything I wanted tonight,” said Tanaka, who wants a unification bout with IBF counterpart Fernando Martinez 16-0 (9) of Argentina next before a rematch with Ioka, who currently holds the WBA championship at 115-pounds.
“These past three years have been a rough time for me since I was defeated and I’m happy to be where I am tonight.”
