On the 19th, former OPBF & WBO-AP Welterweight champion Jin Sasaki (Hachioji Nakaya) headlined “Phoenix Battle 150” at Korakuen Hall, securing a TKO victory over Marlon Paniamogan (Philippines) at 1 minute and 21 seconds into the second round. With this win, Sasaki successfully marked his comeback following a prior defeat in his first world title challenge.
Jin Sasaki shouted “Wait for me, world!”
As soon as the opening bell rang, Jin Sasaki looked to end the fight immediately, unleashing a barrage of left hooks. Despite some missed swings due to over-eagerness and absorbing a few counters, he quickly regained his composure and began controlling the pace with a sharp left jab.
In the second round, after blocking a flurry of punches from Marlon Paniamogan, Sasaki countered with a piercing left hook. The shot landed flush on Paniamogan‘s face, sending him down hard. Referee Terayama waved off the count and declared the match over.
Having secured his comeback via knockout, Sasaki revived his trademark “Wait for me, world!” shout in the center of the ring. He then invited the current OPBF champion, Sora Tanaka (Ohashi), into the ring, stating, “He is one of the rivals I must overcome, and I would be honored to fight him on a grand stage.” Tanaka responded in kind, saying, “If you’ll have me, I would love to make this fight happen,” drawing thunderous applause from the crowd as both fighters signaled their intent to face off.
Jin Sasaki strikes a pose in the ring alongside Sora Tanaka (left).
Jin Sasaki’s record now stands at 20 wins (18 KOs), 2 losses, and 1 draw. Marlon Paniamogan moves to 13 wins (6 KOs), 5 losses, and 1 draw.
