WBO World Welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) scored three knockdowns in a fifth-round knockout of Jin Sasaki (19-2-1, 17 KOs) on Thursday night at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. The badly hurt Sasaki was carried out of the ring afterward. The time of the stoppage was at 0:46 seconds of the fifth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

Sasaki Knocked Out in Tokyo

In the first round, within seconds, a left hook on the chin from Norman dropped Sasaki for an 8-count from Referee Gustavo Tomas. Midway, Norman landed a right on the chin, and down went Sasaki a second time for an 8-count from referee Tomas.

In the third round, Norman continued driving Sasaki around the ring. In the fourth round, Norman landed a right on the chin. Sasaki fought back well, having Norman against the ropes at the end of the round, in a close round. In the fifth round, a vicious left hand from Norman on the chin, and down went Sasaki, out cold, on his back. Sasaki was on the canvas for minutes before getting up on a stretcher and being carried out of the ring.

Southpaw No. 1 contender Cristian ‘The Bomb’ Araneta (25-3, 20 KOs) lost a 12-round split decision to #3-ranked contender OPBF light flyweight champion Thanongsak Simsri (39-1, 34 KOs) by a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant IBF World light flyweight title.

In the third round’s final thirty seconds, Araneta slipped a punch, landing an overhand left to the chin, dropping him for an 8-count from referee Nokamora, as Simri’s knee hit the canvas, getting right up. Simri cut over the right eyebrow earlier in the round in an all-action round.

In the sixth round, Araneta cut on the left eyebrow and Simsri on the right eyebrow since the third round. In the seventh round, Simsri had a good round countering the southpaw Araneta.

In the tenth round, the cut from Araneta was flowing down the side of his face. In the eleventh round, it was all Araneta, going mainly to the body. In the twelfth and final round, it was all Araneta with Simsri finally landing several punches in the final minute of a close fight.

Scores were 114-113, 115-112, 116-111.

Sora Tanaka (4-0, 1 KO) stopped southpaw Takeru Kobata (14-8-1, 8 KOs) at 2:01 of the fourth round of a scheduled 12 rounds, for the vacant OPBF welterweight title.

In the first round, the action was furious. Tanaka had Kobata backed into a corner for the final minute of the round. In the second round, at the end, Kobata was bleeding from the mouth and nose. In the third round, the action wasn’t slowing down from either fighter.

In the fourth round, Tanaka landed a flurry of punches, forcing referee Takearu Okan to call a halt.

Yuya Oku (8-1-2, 5 KOs) lost to southpaw Reiya Abe (27-4-2, 10 KOs) by a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant Japan featherweight title.

In the first five rounds, Abe had an edge. From the sixth through the tenth, it was Oku. Abe’s left eyebrow was swelling badly at the end.

The scores were 96-94, 96-94, and 98-92.

Featherweight southpaw Ren Ohashi (4-0, 4 KOs) knocked out Guangheng Luan (13-9-2, 9 KOs) at 2:23 of the fifth round of a scheduled eight rounds. Koji Tonaka was the referee.

Super middleweight Yuito Moriwaki (1-0) defeated Ha So Baek (3-2, 2 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision.

The scores were 79-72, 78-73, and 77-74. Toshio Sugiyama was the referee.

Lightweight Seiya Yamaguchi (4-1, 2 KOs) beat Ryosuke Kiuchi (3-4-1, 2 KOs) by a four-round unanimous decision.

The scores were 40-36, 39-36, and 39-36. Shuhai Tarayama was the referee.

The Ring Announcer was Jimmy Lennon, Jr.