Absolute Elimination: Norman Jr. erases Sasaki in the Tokyo Massacre

WBO World Welterweight Champion Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOS) recorded three knockdowns on the fifth knockout of Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday night. Sasaki, who was so hurt, was later brought out of the ring. The stop time was 0:46 seconds in the fifth round of the scheduled 12 rounds.

Sasaki knocked out in Tokyo

In the first round, within seconds, a left hook on the jaw from Norman dropped Sasaki and dropped an eight count from referee Gustavo Thomas. Along the way, Norman landed his right on his chin and went to Sasaki for the second time for an eighth count from Judge Thomas.

In the third round, Norman continued driving Sasaki around the ring. In the fourth round, Norman landed right on his chin. Sasaki fought back often and ended up with Norman against the ropes at the end of the round. In the fifth round, a vicious left hand from Norman on his chin gave Sasaki a cold to his back. Sasaki was on the canvas for a few minutes before getting up on a stretcher and being carried out of the ring.

Southpaw No. 1 candidate Cristian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta (25-3, 20 KOS) lost his 12-round split decision against #3 ranked candidate OPBF light flyweight champion Sonongsak Simsri (39-1, 34 Kos) due to a 12-round unanimous decision against the vacant IBF world light flyweight title.

In the final 30 seconds of the third round, Araneta slid a punch and landed, remaining on his chin on the left, and Simli’s knee hit the canvas and dropped him for an eight count from Judge Nokamora as he quickly rose to his feet. Simri cut his right brow in a full round early in the round.

In the sixth round, Araneta has cut his left brow and Simsuri with his right brow since the third round. In the seventh round, Simsli had a good round against Southpaw Araneta.

In the 10th round, a cut from Araneta flowed through the sides of his face. In the 11th round it was all araneate, and mostly went to the body. In the 12th final round, it was all Araneta that Simsuri finally landed some punches in the final minute of a close fight.

The scores were 114-113, 115-112, and 116-111.

Sora Tanaka (4-0, 1 KO) stopped Southport Takel (14-8-1, 8 KO) at 2:01 in the fourth round of the scheduled 12 round due to an open OPBF welterweight title.

In the first round, the action was furious. Tanaka put Kobata back to the corner for the final minute of the round. In the second round, at the end, Kobata was bleeding from her mouth and nose. In the third round, the action had not slowed down from either fighter.

In the fourth round, Tanaka landed a gust of punches and forced the referee Takier Makan to call for a stop.

Yuya Oku (8-1-2, 5 Kos) was defeated by Southpaw Riyya Abe (27-4-2, 10 Kos) due to the decision of Unanimouus in the 10th round of vacant Japanese featherweight tiles.

In the first five rounds, Abe had the edge. From 6th to 10th, it was offshore. Abe’s left eyebrows were extremely swollen at the end.

Scores were 96-94, 96-94, and 98-92.

Featherweight Southpaw Len Ohasi (4-0, 4 KOS) knocked out Guangen Luang (13-9-2, 9 KOs) at 2:23 in the fifth round of the scheduled eighth round. Tonaka was a judge.

Super middleweight Moriwaki (1-0) defeated Ha So Baek (3-2, 2 Kos) with an unanimous decision in the eighth round.

The scores were 79-72, 78-73, and 77-74. Sugiyama Town was a judge.

With a unanimous decision in the fourth round, lighter Yamaguchi (4-1, 2 Kos) defeated Kunogawa (3-4-1, 2 Kos).

The scores were 40-36, 39-36, and 39-36. Shuhai Tarayama was a judge.

The ring announcer was Jimmy Lennon Jr.