IWAKAWA CAPTURES OPBF FEMALE LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CROWN

By LITO DELOS REYES

JAPANESE fighter Mika Iwakawa pummeled to submission Nonggig Sithjaanart of Thailand in the second round to capture the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) female light flyweight crown last August 20 at the Komagatani Gym in Sanda, Hyogo, Japan.

The 33-year old Iwakawa scored the technical knockout win in 1:16 of the second round of a schedule 8-rounder. Iwakawa improved to 6 wins with 2 knockouts against 4 losses ad 1 draw. It was only the pro debut for the Thai boxer.

Iwakawa dropped her previous fight via a unanimous decision to Mexican Brisa Hernandez last June 10 in Mexico.

TAKAYAMA

Meanwhile, Katsunari Takayama stopped fellow Japanese Riku Kano by a TKO to cop the vacant WBO World minimumweight title also last Saturday night in the same venue.

Takayama won in 58 seconds of the 6^th round to improve his record to 31 wins with 12 knockouts against 8 losses. It was only Kano’s second setback against 10 wins and 1 draw.

Kano is currently the OPBF silver minimumweight title-holder.

In the main supporting bout, Louisa “Bang Bang Lulu” Hawton of Australia pocketed the vacant WBO World female light flyweight crown via a unanimous decision over Kei Takenaka of Japan.

The 31-year old Hawton scored her seventh straight victory to remain unbeaten while Takenaka, 30, suffered only her first defeat after 11 straight wins.