By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Game and gutsy Taiki Minamoto (16-5, 13 KOs), 126, barely kept his Japanese featherweight belt as he came off the canvas from a bad knockdown in round three, patiently fought back and finally dropped JBC#3 Tatsuya Otsubo (12-9, 4 KOs), 126, with a furious retaliation, halting him at 2:24 of the ninth round on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.

The determined challenger, energetic and effective, was ahead on points after the fifth round on open scoring system: 48-46 on all cards. From the fourth round on, however, Minamoto collected back a point in every round to weaken the still pugnacious challenger. The champ’s incessant combo finally caught up with him, decking him to the floor, which prompted the referee’s well-received intervention.