By Joe Koizumi

Former WBO 105-pound champ Ryuya Yamanaka (16-3, 5 KOs), 108, returned to action after a hiatus of three years and eight months, and impressively scored a fine TKO victory over Daisuke Sudo (7-8-3, no KO), 107, at 1:52 of the fifth round on Sunday in Kobe, Japan. Ryuya was once diagnosed unable to fight on because of subdural hematoma after his forfeiture of the WBO belt at the hand of Vic Saludar in July 2018, but the JBC’s new medical guideline allowed him to be eligible to fight after three-time MRI tests. Dropping Sudo with a solid right counter in round one, Yamanaka took the initiative and accelerated his attack so furiously that the ref finally called a halt in the fatal fifth.

Promoter: Shinsei Promotions.