By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten IBF#6 Andy “Da Blade” Hiraoka (19-0, 14 KOs), 140, impressively flattened gallant challenger Cristiano Aoqui (16-9-2, 11 KOs), 140, with a single southpaw left at 2:16 of the tenth round in a scheduled twelve to retain his Japanese national and WBO Asia Pacific 140-pound belts on Monday in Tokyo, Japan. In an ethnic confrontation of Ghanan-blooded Andy and Brazilian descendant Cristiano, it was a very messy fight with too frequent clinches each other for the first nine rounds—prior to a trick happening.

Circling and countering the onrushing Aoqui with jabs and lefts, Hiraoka’s stick-and-grab tactics piled up points due to his higher precision in punching. It was Andy’s worst performance without doubt, but his coup-de-grace in the fatal round saved a deterioration of his reputation as a prospect under the promotional agreement with Top Rank Inc. Though looking skinny, the six-foot Andy, 25, formerly a track and field runner, is vastly gifted with natural reflexes, physical resilience and balance. With more experience with name opponents, Andy will improve more so that he may get a world title shot in the near future, if not now.

Promoter: Ohashi Promotions.

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