The World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific lightweight champion Katsuya Yasuda of Ohashi Boxing Gym, surviving a dangerous situation in the second round, knocked out third-ranked Presco Carcosia of the Philippines in the eighth round to retain his title for the third time on July 9 in Tokyo.

  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.