Muto Upsets WBO#1 Fujita, Wins WBO AP 126lb Belt
By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Upset! Previously unbeaten WBO#1 featherweight Kenji Fujita (10-1, 5 KOs; amateur 153-21), 125.75, was upset by unheralded challenger Ryota Muto (10-1-1, 6 KOs), 125.25, on an unexpected TKO defeat, losing his WBO Asia Pacific 126-pound belt on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Time was 2:13 in round seven, when the referee Tanaka declared a halt to save the dethroned champ from further punishment. From the outset Muto, eleven years his junior at 21, was aggressive enough, scoring with effective southpaw overhand lefts to the defending champ Fujita making his fifth defense. Fujita attempted to turn the tide with his desperate retaliation in the fifth, but the less experienced Muto took back the initiative in the next session and furiously accelerated his attack in the fatal seventh. The upset loser Fujita may deserve a rematch to win back the regional belt.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/1135139
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