Top-ranked challenger Shuma Nakazato of Boxing Club Okinawa upset the previously undefeated Shu Utsuki of Watanabe Boxing Gym with a third-round knockout and wrested the Japanese lightweight title on Apr. 26 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The end of the scheduled 10-round fight came 1 minute and 42 seconds into the round when Nakazato decked Utsuki with a counter right to the head. While Utsuki wobbled to his feet, the referee’s count tolled 10.
With the defeat, the 28-year-old Utsuki failed in his third defense of the title he won in February last year.
With the win, Nakazato, 26, became the first Okinawa-based champion to win a title in 21 years.
Utsuki fell to 12 wins, including 10 KOs, against a loss, whereas Nakazato now stands at 13 wins, including eight KOs, against two losses and three draws.
The fight served as the main event of Lemino BOXING PHOENIX BATTLE 99.
