Champion Shokichi Iwata of Teiken Boxing Gym stopped top-ranked Toshimasa Ouchi of Himeji-Kinoshita Boxing Gym in the opening round to retain his Japanese light flyweight title on March 5 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 10-rounder came 1 minute and 10 seconds into the first round when Iwata, 26, landed a straight right to the head over Ouchi’s left jab, sending his 36-year-old challenger down sideways.

While Ouchi struggled to his feet, he was severely staggered and tottering on the ring, which prompted the referee to call off the fight immediately.

It was Iwata’s first successful defense of the title he captured by stopping Rikito Shiba of Shinsei Boxing Gym for the vacant crown last November.

After the fight, Iwata, who is ranked second in the division by the World Boxing Association and seventh by the World Boxing Council, said, ‘’I am glad that I was able to retain the title with KO with my favorite straight right. I am determined to win a world title to accomplish my child food dream.’’ For his part, it was Ouchi’s fourth unsuccessful challenge for the Japanese title.

They fought in June last year, in which Iwata easily decisioned him in an eight-round nontitle bout.
With the win, undefeated Iwata improved his record to eight wins, including six KOs. Ouchi impaired to a 22-12-3 win-loss-draw tally with eight KOs.