Ryuya Moriai beats Eigoro Akai via controversial stoppage

It took Ryuya Moriai less than two rounds to shock Eigoro Akai in their six-round super-middleweight clash.

Akai is now 5-4 (4 KOs). Moriai scored his first stoppage and is now 5-2-1 (1 KO).

Akai’s legs betrayed him after a right hand in round two when he was dropped and given a count and, with Moriai landing shots from range and Akai unable to sufficiently defend himself, the referee intervened at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

It was a premature and unlikely stoppage, but as Akai was tended to in his corner afterwards – having initially protested the ending – he might have lamented his decision to try to move forwards with his hands down while getting hit.

The Kashiwa lightweight Ryosuke Kiuchi improved to 3-3-1 (2 KOs) with a points victory over Yokohama’s Fuentes Kitajima, 2-2.

They opened the promotion headlined by Junto Nakatani and David Cuellar, who contest Nakatani’s WBC bantamweight title.

In a tame opening session, Kiuchi landed the better shots to commence their four-rounder.

Kiuchi looked bigger and stronger and, while Kitajima landed occasional blows – including a left hook and some uppercuts – he stayed in the pocket too long and was often tagged in reply. He was giving ground at the end of the fight, and getting caught by right hands – including a heavy straight right at the bell.

Kiuchi was swollen by his left eye and he had a cut beneath it, but he did enough to claim a unanimous decision.