America’s Anthony Olascuaga produced a sensational performance to stop Riku Kano and win the vacant WBO flyweight title.
Having lost to the excellent Kenshiro Teraji in a challenge for the unified light flyweight title in 2023, Olascuaga, 7-1 (5 KOs), came out firing in his second world title fight, immediately forcing Kano, 22-5-2 (11 KOs), on to the back foot and finding success with both hands. Kano quickly went into his shell and Olascuaga continued to work away, scoring with hooks to the body and using sharp, precise footwork to dip in and out of range.
The more technically correct Kano, 26, tried to stay calm and take back control behind his southpaw jab in the second but Olascuaga’s hand speed and aggression meant he continued to dictate. The right uppercut was Olescuaga’s best weapon, and whenever it landed it would act as a trigger for a second phase of attacks and a series of left hooks and straight right hands would quickly follow.
Kano was badly outgunned and in the third, Olescuaga missed with an overhand right but instinctively followed it up with a beautiful left uppercut that floored Kano headily. The official time was two minutes and 50 seconds.
The aggressive Olascuaga, 25, has certainly been moved quickly. He looked sensational, and looks like being a major factor at 112lbs for years to come.
Issei Aramoto, 1-0 (1 KO) kickstarted the world-title double header and got his professional career off to a successful start by knocking out Mongontsooj Nandinerdine, 2-2-1 (2 KOs), in the sixth and final round at super middleweight.
Nandinerdine bounced right hands off Aramoto’s head at will during the opening round but despite looking tense, the Japanese fighter continued to press the action and concentrated on attacking the body. By the second round Aramoto seemed to be warming to his task but the showboating Mongolian found it difficult to miss him with his short, sharp bursts.
Both fighters collected warnings for fouls in the second round and Nandinerdine looked fortunate to escape punishment after a clash of heads, but he was in control. Although there wasn’t much power behind his shots, one right uppercut definitely stung Aramoto, and the 24 year old looked like he was losing his way.
Aramoto came out with more intent in the fourth, hurting Nandinerdine with a counter left hook and forcing him back to the corner. Rather than letting Nadinerdine get off first, Aramoto learned to take the initiative.
A tiring Nandinerdine got a welcome rest in the fourth when he was hurt by a very low left hook from Adamoto, but the Japanese fighter got right back to business when the action resumed. Nandinerdine had banked the first couple of rounds but Aramoto made the scorecards redundant halfway through the sixth round when a clean left hook dropped Nandinerdine face first.
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