By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBA super-fly champ Kohei Kono (33-10-1, 14 KOs), 117, made a fine comeback as he dropped Thailand’s Rambo Korat Sports School (13-10-1, 3 KOs), 115.5, twice en route to a well-received stoppage at 1:35 of the fifth round in a scheduled eight beneath a world title doubleheader on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.

Having been demolished by unbeaten WBO titleholder Naoya “Monster” Inoue in six lopsided rounds last December, Kono had been considering whether to go on or not, but returned to ring warfare to show his usual non-stop punching in halting the Thailander with his trademark combinations upstairs and downstairs. It is said Kono will meet WBO top ranked Rex Tso in Hong Kong in October.