By Miguel Rivera, photo by Jose Ramos.
Coliseo Roger Mendoza, Caguas, Puerto Rico - WBO junior flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka was ringside, scouting a final world title eliminator - which saw Angel "Tito" Acosta (16-0, 16 KOs) continue his streak of knockout victories with a tenth round stoppage of WBO #1 rated Jafet “The Lion” Uutoni (11-1, 4 KOs).
Tanaka will now have to face Acosta within the next 90 days. The two boxers went face to face after the contest was over, with WBO President Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel watching in delight.
Acosta is viewed as one of the rising stars of Miguel Cotto's promotional company, Miguel Cotto Promotions.
Tanaka, at 8-0, 5KOs, is already a two division world champion. He captured the OPBF title by stopped 18-0 Ryuji Hara in only his fourth pro fight.
He then captured the WBO minimumweight world title in December 2015, in his only his sixth fight, with a knockout of Vic Saludar. Two fights later, in December 2016, he took out former world champion Moises Fuentes of Mexico to capture the WBO junior flyweight crown.
Acosta turned pro back in November of 2012, and he's been stopping opponents ever since with his heavy hands. Last year he entered the ring three times and secured three stoppage wins - which included veterans Luis Ceja and Juan Guzman.