Hard-hitting Gakuya Furuhashi of Kawasaki Nitta Boxing Gym, unleashing a barrage of left-right combinations, stopped sixth-ranked challenger Seigo Hanamori of JB Sports Boxinggym in the third round and retained his Japanese super bantamweight title on Aug. 2 in Tokyo.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 10-rounder at the Korakuen Hall came 1 minute and 12 seconds into the round when Hanamori became groggy against the ropes before the champion’s onslaught, prompting the referee to step in to wave off the fight.

It was the 33-year-old Furuhashi’s first successful defense of the title he captured from Yusaku Kuga of Watanabe Boxing Gym last January.

Both fighters exchanged fierce blows at close range from the opening bell. Furuhashi decked the 23-year-old challenger with an overhand right followed by a counter right in the first round. But the gutsy Hanamori managed to beat the count and survived the round.

They hit each other in the second round as well since Hanamori tried to overwhelm his elder opponent, who tightened his guard while landing effective body shots, which visibly sapped Hanamori’s strength.
Before the referee’s stoppage in the third round, Furuhashi attacked Hanamori in waves, soon sending his gutsy but inexperienced opponent defenseless.

After the fight, Furuhashi said, ‘’Since I won the title by the skin of my teeth, I am relieved that I was able to retain the title decisively.’’

With the victory, Furuhashi improved his record to 28 wins, including 16 KOs, against eight losses and a draw. Hanamori fell to a 7-4 win-loss tally with five KOs.