Hard-hitting Jin Sasaki of Hachioji Nakaya Boxing Gym, surviving two knockdowns, landed a devastating left hook to the head to attain a dramatic come-from-behind knockout over challenger Kaiki Yuba of Watanabe Boxing Gym in the second round and retained his Japanese youth super lightweight crown on July 17 in Tokyo.

The KO at the Hachioji City Fujinomori Gymnasium came 2 minutes and 3 seconds into the round of the scheduled 8-rounder when the 19-year-old Sasaki landed a looping left hook to the left-handed Yuba, sending his onrushing opponent hard to the canvas.

While the 22-year-old Yuba, the Japanese youth lightweight kingpin, tried to beat the referee’s count, he could not get up before the count tolled 10.

Yuba got off to a good start as he decked incoming Sasaki with a straight left late in the first round for a mandatory eight count and dropped his wild-swinging opponent soon into the second round also with a straight left.

While Yuba unleashed a barrage of right-left combinations to Sasaki near the ropes, Sasaki threw a desperate big left hook to the head of Yuba to end the exciting fight.

With the victory, Sasaki extended his unbeaten streak to 11 wins, including 10 KOs, while Yuba suffered his first loss after attaining a 7-2 win-draw tally with five KOs.

Sasaki said after the fight, ‘’I was hit by the hardest punches during my career. I will tray not to be hit easily from now on.

Sasaki is expected to next face Andy Hiraoka of Ohashi Boxing Gym this fall to fill the vacant Japanese super lightweight crown. Hiraoka is currently ranked eighth in the division by the International Boxing Federation.