By Joe Koizumi
Perennial top contender Denakaosen Kaowichit (45-1-1, 19 KOs), 111.75, Thailand, very impressively captured the WBA flyweight belt as he showed a fine opening attack in the first, and caught defending champ Takafumi Sakata (33-5-2, 15 KOs), 112, making his fifth defense, with a vicious right under the ear and finished him for the count at 2:55 of the second round on Wednesday in Hiroshima, Japan. It was their grudge fight as they battled to a draw in the first encounter last November.
Undercard: Unbeaten Japan-based Russian Sasha Bakhtin, 117.5, was awarded a lopsided technical decision (100-90 twice and 100-89) over OPBF top ranked Korean national titlist Sungkook Kim, 118, at 1:07 of the tenth session in a scheduled twelve. Promoter: Kyoei Promotions.
