VETERAN Katsunari Takayama of Japan, who at one time was under the promotional banner of ALA Promotions, has won the vacant WBO minimum weight title for the fifth time, beating 18-year-old prospect Riku Kano in Sanda, Japan.
Takayama had a cut, which Hall of Fame media man Joe Koizumi said deteriorated in the sixth round, forcing referee Danrex Tapdasan to call a halt at 0:58 of the round and go to the scorecards of the three judges,
The Philippines’ Salven Lagumbay scored the competitive fight, 58-56, Waleska Roldan (US) and Lynne Carter (US) had it 59-56 and 59-55 respectively, all for the 33-year-old ex-champion Takayama.
Koizumi reported: “As expected, the notorious bleeder Takayama bled from a gash over the left eyebrow due to an accidental butt from the third on, but not as expected, the victor wasn’t his opponent but Takayama.