The World Boxing Organization’s third-ranked flyweight Anthony Olascuaga of the United States, demonstrating his punching power, knocked out second-ranked Riku Kano of Teiken Boxing Gym in the third round and captured the vacant WBO flyweight title on July 20 in Tokyo.

  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.