The 22-year-old Harada, who was fighting for his first Olympics, will next face Javier Ibanez of Bulgaria in the quarterfinals at the capital city’s Arena Paris Nord on Aug. 3.

  Meanwhile, Harada’s compatriot and the winner in the 2021 AIBA men’s world boxing championships at welterweight Sewon Okazawa of INSPA Inc. lost to Zeyad Eashash of Jordan 2-3 in the men’s 71-kg division the same day and failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Summer Olympics.

  After the fight at Korakuen Hall, all three judges scored the fight 59-55 in favor of Wakasa. It was the 36-year-old Wakasa’s first title in about two years and a half. For her part, Fujiwara failed in her first defense of the title she won by decisioning Kimika Miyoshi of Kawasaki Nitta Boxing Gym in April.

  While there were no knockdowns in the fight, it was Wakasa who landed more effective punches than the 37-year-old Fujiwara.

  With the win, Wakasa improved her record to eight wins, two by knockout, against four losses, while Fujiwara fell to a 6-4-1 win-loss-draw tally with two KOs.

  The technical knockout of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Shiga Daihatsu Arena in the prefecture’s Otsu City came 2 minutes and 50 seconds into the round when the left-handed Tduran connected with unanswered blows to the head and body by putting Shigeoka, also a southpaw, against the ropes, which prompted the referee to step in to call off the fight.

  The 24-year-old Shigeoka’s damage was such he was carried out on a stretcher to a hospital, although there was no serious damage to his health. With the defeat, Shigeoka failed in his third defense of the title he won by knocking out Taduran’s compatriot Rene Mark Cuarto in April last year.

  This is the second time for the 27-year-old Taduran to capture the IBF minimumweight crown as he won the then vacant title in 2019 by stopping Samuel Salva of the Philippines. He lost the title in 2021 to fellow Filipino Rene Mark Cuarto in his second title defense.

  After the fight, Taduran said through an interpreter, ‘’I have trained very hard for this particular fight in the past three months. Though he (Shigeoka) was a good fighter, I came here to win the title.’’

‘’This was the fourth time for me to visit the Japan (twice for then World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka and once for then for World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of B.M.B. Boxing Gym). I want to add more championship belts,’’ he added. It was Shigeoka’s first bout with a left-handed opponent in four years and seven months.

  While both southpaws got off to an active start, it was Taduran who threw more effective punches.

  Shigeoka suffered a nosebleed in the second round with his right eyelid beginning to be closed in the fifth stanza due to Taduran’s overhand lefts.

  Though Shigeoka occasionally connected with right hooks to the body, it was Taduran who came out even stronger by unleashing powerful punches to the head and body.

  Shigeoka’s damage was such, the referee appeared to have been seeking an opportunity to stop the fight.

  With the victory, Taduran improved his record to 17 wins, including 13 KOs, against four losses and a draw. For his part, it was Shigeoka’s first loss after winning his first 11 bouts, nine by KO.

  It was the first time that a world title fight had been held in the western Japanese prefecture. It was held under the banner of 3150FIGHT vol.9 promoted by Kameda Promotion Co.

  It was Kano’s third successful defense of the title she captured in March last year by beating Miki.

  Fighting at Korakuen Hall, Kano displayed effective combination blows to Miki throughout the fight. There were no knockdowns in the bout.

  With the win, the 29-year-old Kano, who also holds the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation atomweight title, improved her record to eight wins, including two KOs, against a loss and two draws. For her part, the 31-year-old Mik fell to a 6-7-1 win-loss tally with two KOs.

  After a hard-fought bout at Korakuen Hall, two of the three judges scored the fight 78-74 for the 31-year-old Kurihara while the remaining one had it 78-74 for the 32-year-old Portes.

  With the win, Kurihara, ranked eighth in the division by the World Boxing Council and ninth by the International Boxing Federation, improved his record to 19 wins, including 16 knockouts, against eight losses and a draw, while Portes fell to a 13-17 win-loss tally with six KOs.

It was the 26-year-old Nakatani’s first successful defense of the title he captured from Alexandro Santiago of Mexico with a sixth-round technical knockout for his third world title in as many different weight classes last February.

The KO of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena came 2 minutes and 37 seconds into the round when the left-handed Nakatani landed a straight left to the body after throwing a right jab, which floored Astrolabio.

While Astrolabio struggled to his feet once, he fell down to the canvas again due apparently to a pain, and the referee counted him out.

After the fight, Nakatani said, ‘’I think that was a little too fast. I will try hard to continue to show a good performance. I think my fans hope to watch me have a title unification bout (with the champions of the three other major sanctioning bodies). What do you think?’’

The fight was held as the main event of the extravaganza dubbed ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 9.’’

Nakatani extended his unbeaten streak to 28 wins, including 21 KOs, whereas the 27-year-old Astrolabio impaired to a 19-5 win-loss record with 14 KOs.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 10-rounder fought at the catchweight of 54.4 kgs (120 lbs) came 1 minute and 49 seconds into the round when the left-handed Nasukawa sent Rodriguez down on his back with a barrage of right-left combinations. While Rodriguez wobbled to his feet, the referee called off the fight.

After the fight, Nasukara, ranked seventh in the division by the WBA, said, ‘’I finally did it. Who said that I cannot achieve a KO win? I did everything I could for this moment. I am a little happy now because I was able to achieve the result. I did not feel any impact when I landed the last decisive punch. That’s the way it was. I will keep evolving.’’

Nasukawa almost decked Rodriguez shortly before the end of the second round with a straight left to the head. But Rodriguez survived as the bell ending the round rang soon after.

With the win, the 25-year-old Nasukawa now has four straight wins, two by KO, while Rodriguez, also, 25, fell to a 17-3-1 win-loss-draw tally with seven KOs.

The fight was held as the chief supporting card for the day’s event called ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 9.’’

  The end of the scheduled 12-rounder at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena came 2 minutes and 50 seconds into the round when Olascuaga connected with a devastating left uppercut, sending Kano down for the count.

  While the left-handed Kano fought well earlier in the fight by throwing right hooks to the head and straight lefts to the body, Olascuaga had more punching power than Kano.

  Olascuaga unsuccessfully challenged World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of B.M.B. Boxing Gym for the latter’s titles in April last year.

  After the day’s fight, Olascuaga said his dream came true as he wanted to come out strong from the opening bell, adding he thought he was able to show a fine performance as Kano had been a good boxer.

  With the win, the 25-year-old Olascuaga improved his record to seven wins, including five KOs, against a loss. For his part, Kano, 26, sagged to a 17-4-1 win-loss-draw tally with eight KOs. 

The fight was held as part of the event dubbed ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 9.’’

Issei Aramoto of Teiken gym, who captured a total of as many as 12 amateur titles during his high school and university days, made a successful professional debut at super middleweight as he stopped Mongontsooj Nandinerdene of Mongolia in the sixth and the final round in the opening bout of the event.

  The technical KO came 1 minute and 9 seconds into the round when the 24-year-old Aramoto dropped his 37-year-old opponent with a left hook to the head, prompting the referee to call off the fight immediately. Nandinerdene fell to a 2-2-1 win-loss-draw tally with two KOs.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 12-rounder at Korakuen Hall came 2 minutes and 54 seconds into the round when Utsuki landed a devastating left hook to the head, staggering Suzuki and pummeled Suzuki with a barrage of combination blows by putting him against the ropes, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

It was the 30-year-old Utsuki’s second straight victory over Suzuki as he stopped Suzuki, 29, in the ninth round to capture the then vacant Japanese lightweight title about two years and a half ago.

With the defeat, Suzuki failed in his first defense of the title he won last January with a first-round TKO win over Roldan Aldea of the Philippines for the then vacant crown.

  Utsuki well utilized straight rights to the head and left hooks to the body and was ahead on points at the end of the fourth round as all three judges scored the fight 39-37 in favor of Utsuki.

  Utsuki once lost his Japanese title to Shuma Nakazato of Boxing Club Okinawa with a third-round KO in April last year.

  Utsuki said after the fight, he wants to capture all the regional lightweight titles (the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific and Japanese).

  With the victory, Utsuki improved his record to 14 wins, including 12 KOs, against a loss, while Suzuki fell to a 10-2-1 win-loss-draw tally with seven KOs.

  The end of the scheduled 10-rounder at Korakuen Hall came 2 minutes and 21 seconds into the round when the left-handed Masuda landed a counter right hook to the head, sending Fuse to the canvas. While Fuse, also a southpaw, struggled to his feet, the referee counted him out as he could not take a fighting pose.

  Masuda suffered a cut above his right eyelid due to Fuse’s well-timed punch in the third round. Fuse connected with a counter left and forced Masuda backpedal before the KO in the fourth round.

  With the defeat, Fuse failed in his first defense of the title he captured in April. Masuda and Fuse fought once in May last year, in which Masuda stopped Fuse in the seventh round.

  After the fight, the 26-year-old Masuda, ranked 11^th in the division by the World Boxing Association, said, ‘’While I had a hard time dealing with Mr. Fuse, the punch that I knocked him out was the kind of punch I was training.’’

  With the win, Masuda now has a record of five wins, all by KO, against a loss. For his part, Fuse, also 26, fell to a 14-4 win-loss tally with three KOs.

  Fighting at Yamato Arena in Osaka Prefecture’s Suita, the 33-year-old Takesako earned a 10-round unanimous decision over Mark Dickinson of Britain and advanced to the semifinals.

  With the win, Takesako now has a record of 17 wins, including 15 knockouts, against two losses and a draw, while the 25-year-old Dickinson fell to a 6-1 win-loss tally with one KO. There were no knockdowns in the fight.

  The 27-year-old Kunimoto stopped Eiki Kani of T & T Boxing Sports Gym in the fifth round and will square off with Takesako in the semifinal match scheduled in October.

  It was Kunimoto’s second straight victory over the 22-year-old Kani as he also earned a TKO win over Kani last march to defend his regional titles. Kunimoto improved his record to 12 wins, including a KO, against a loss (to Takesako), whereas Kani fell to an 8-5-3 win-loss-draw tally with four KOs.

  Kunimoto said after the fight, ‘’Since I’ve always wanted to fight with Mr. Takesako, I will show everything I have in my arsenal in the coming fight.’’ Takesako knocked out Kunimoto in May 2021 to retain his then Japanese middleweight crown.

  Other first-round bouts were Aaron McKenna of Ireland stopped Jeovanny Estela of the United States in the 10^th and final round, while Kieron Conway of Britain stopped China’s Ainiwaer Yilixiati in the seventh round.

  The boxer who won in the first round will get the purse of 150,000 dollars (75,000 dollars for a loser), while the winner in the semifinal match will receive 250,000 dollars (125,000 dollars for a loser).

  The winner of the tournament will take home 1 million dollars, while the loser in the final will get 250,000 dollars. The knockout prize is also at stake for each round with the total prize of 100,000 dollars.

  The technical knockout of the scheduled eight-rounder at Nakagusu Ward Gymnasium came a minute and 19 seconds into the round when the 28-year-old Ikemoto dropped Niratchaporn with a left hook to the body. While the 27-year-old Thai struggled to her feat to resume the fight, Ikemoto swarmed over her with a barrage of combination blows, prompting the referee to call off the fight.

  With the victory, Ikemoto, who is working as a policewoman for Okinawa Prefectural Police, improved her record to nine wins, including a KO, against two losses. Niratchaporn fell to a 5-2 win-loss tally with two KOs.

  After the 10-round fight at Korakuen Hall, two of the three judges scored the fight 96-94 and the third one had it 97-93, all in favor of the 26-year-old Takada. There were no knockdowns in the fight.

  It was Takada’s fourth successful defense of the title he captured in April last year.

  Takada slightly led the fight in the first round by working Kanaya’s body mostly with his right punches and maintained his pace for the remainder of the fight. Both exchanged fierce blows in the last two rounds.

  After the fight, Takada said he intends to relinquish his Japanese title and aims at taking a crack at the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific minimumweight title held by Goki Kobayashi of Shinsei Boxing Gym.

  With the win, Takada who is ranked second in the division by the World Boxing Association, improved his record to 15 wins, including six knockouts, against eights losses and three draws, while the 27-year-old Kanaya fell to a 5-3 win-loss tally with one KO.

  The end of the scheduled 12-rounder at Korakuen Hall came 1 minute and 58 seconds into the round as the left-handed Yasuda dropped his 28-year-old opponent with a short left to the head. While Carcosia struggled to his feet, he could not hold himself still, and the referee counted him out.

  Yasuda was staggered in the second round when Carcosia landed a barrage of left and right hooks to the head and fought in a carefully way in the following several rounds.

  After the fight, Yasuda said, ‘’I want to added the following two regional titles (the Japanese and the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation lightweight titles) this year and next.’’

  With the win, Yasuda improved his record to 14 wins, including nine KOs, against a loss. Carcosia impaired to a 12-4-1 win-loss-draw tally with nine KOs.

  After the hard-fought battle at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, all three judges scored the fight for the 32-year-old Marinez (120-108, 117-111 and 116-112).

With the victory, Martinez retained his IBF title for the third time he won by decisioning Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines in February 2022. Ioka failed in his second defense of the title he captured in June last year. There were no knockdowns in the fight.

  Martinez came out strong from the opening bell as he threw wild hooks and uppercuts, most of which did not land accurately. But his active fighting style forced Ioka backpedal. The 35-year-old Ioka landed occasional left hooks to the body, momentarily stopping Martinez’s forward move.

  Martinez, however, recovered quickly and swarmed all over Ioka again by throwing overhand rights and wild left hooks.

  Aware he is behind on points, Ioka attempted to land counter rights and left hooks to the body. But Martinez, occasionally switching slightly to the left-handed stance. did not lose his forward momentum throughout the fight.

  With the victory, Martinez, nicknamed Puma, extended his unbeaten streak to 17, including nine knockouts. For his part, Ioka fell to a 31-3-1 win-loss-draw tally with 16 KOs.

  After the fight, Martinez said, ‘’I am extremely happy now. I want to thank everybody.’’

While Martinez showed an interest in having further title unification bouts with World Boxing Council champion Jesse ‘’Bam’’ Rodriguez of the United States and World Boxing Organization kingpin Kosei Tanaka off Soul Box Hatanaka Boxing Gym, he did not deny the possibility of the rematch with Ioka. ‘’It will all depend on the purse I will get, ‘’ Martinez added.

  Ioka told reporters later, ‘’I think I did what I had to do by dedicating all my strength. I cannot say anything about my future at this point in time.’’

  The end of the scheduled 10-rounder fought at the catchweight of 56 kgs (123 lbs) came 1 minute and 13 seconds into the round when Tsutsumi floored Weerawat with a straight right to the head for the second knockdown in the round, which prompted the referee to call of the fight immediately. Earlier in the round, Tsutsumi decked Weerawat with left hooks to the body.

  The 28-year-old Tsutsumi also scored knockdowns twice in the third round, first by a left hook to the body and the second by a right uppercut. The 22-year-old Thai managed to survive the round.

  With the win, the undefeated Tsutsumi improved his record to 11 wins, including eight KOs, with two draws, whereas Weerawat, a former Muay Thai practitioner, fell to a 4-2 win-loss tally with two KOs.

  After the fight, Tsutsumi said, ‘’I heaved a sigh of relief. Since the current world bantamweight champions are all Japanese, I don’t want to lose to them. I am happy that I can continue boxing.’’

  The fight was held as the chief supporting card for ‘’LIFE TIME BOXING FIGHTS 22.’’