Ono halts Kano, keeps Japanese 105lb belt

By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Japanese veteran 105-pounder, WBO#9/IBF#11 Shin Ono (23-9-3, 6 KOs), 105, kept his national belt as he proved still too ringwise and relentless in infighting in outhustling JBC top contender Riku Kano (13-4-1, 7 KOs), 105, and dropping him twice en route to a well-received stoppage at 2:46 of the eighth round in a scheduled all-southpaw ten on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having failed to win the WBO minimum title from compatriot Katsunari Takayama two years ago, Kano rebounded to move up to the Japanese top contender. Riku, fifteen years his junior at 20, was obviously overpowered by the champ, hitting the deck like Mark Breland outhustled by Marlon Starling in their first encounter in 1987.

Prior to the stoppage, ex-OPBF ruler Ono was ahead on points: 68-65 twice, 67-66 all in favor of the veteran champ. The ref was Tetsuya Iida, who handled the fast affair well.