Japan’s Uchiyama Floors Salgado to Seize World Boxing Association Super Featherweight Belt

Japan’s Takashi Uchiyama shocked Juan Carlos Salgado of Mexico in a technical knockout victory to become the new World Boxing Association super featherweight champion on Monday.

The knockout came 2 minutes, 48 seconds into the 12th round after Uchiyama unleashed powerful punches from both flanks to floor Salgado. The referee stopped the bout shortly before the final gong.

“I fought at the risk of my boxing life, thinking I would never have another chance if I lose. It’s a dream. I feel great,” Uchiyama said after his first attempt at a world title.

“I tried to knock him out if I would have a chance. In the end, I felt pretty confident.”

The 30-year-old Uchiyama, ranked third in the WBA, improved his unbeaten professional record to 14-0 with 11 knockouts.

Salgado, 25, who took the title in October 2009 with a technical knockout in the first round against Jorge Linares of Venezuela, saw his record reduced to 22-1-1 (16 KOs).

“I couldn’t anticipate what Uchiyama was going to do. His style of boxing is a bit strange. I must analyze the mistakes I did and will challenge him if I have a chance,” Salgado said.

Earlier, Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaeng successfully defended his WBA title by defeating Japan’s Satoshi Hosono.

Two US judges scored the bout 115-113 and 114-114, while the South Korean judge counted it 117-113 for the defending champion, giving him a 2-0 decision.

“I’m proud that I defended the title in a foreign country. He [Hosono] is a big fighter, so I’m satisfied with a decision victory,” Poonsawat said.

“If the WBC [World Boxing Council] bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa wants to challenge me, I’m ready to fight against him.”

Poonsawat, 29, improved to 40-1 with 28 KOs after defending the title he won in September. Hosono, 26, suffered his first loss in 17 bouts. 

AFP