Jerwin Ancajas, Jonas Sultan KO'd in Tokyo

Takuma Inoue got the better of Jerwin Ancajas in their title fight. Ring Magazine

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The wait for a new Filipino world boxing champion continues as Jerwin Ancajas fell prey to Takuma Inoue in their Saturday night bout for the WBA bantamweight title at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

A "liver shot" decided the outcome as Ancajas could not bear the heavy punch Inoue landed on his body early into Round 9 and suffered his first loss by stoppage.

Not known as a knockout artist, Inoue, the younger brother of undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, banked on his counterpunches and wobbled Ancajas by Round 3.

Jerwin Ancajas had some bright moments in Round 4 when he began charging at close range, but Takuma Inoue quickly resolved the game plan adjustments and once more controlled the match's tempo.

Ancajas tried to spark a comeback beginning in Round 8, but at the 44-second mark of Round 9, Inoue landed a right uppercut to the body that stunned him for a second before falling to the canvas and eventually missing the 10-count.

Inoue won just his fifth bout by knockout and moved up to 19-1, while Ancajas dropped to 34-4-2.

Earlier in the night, Jonas Sultan suffered a similar fate to Ancajas after falling to Riku Masuda in a huge upset.

Sultan, the former world title contender, was knocked out in just 51 seconds after Masuda landed a liver shot of his own to finish the bout.

Masuda moved up to 4-1, while Sultan fell to 19-7.

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