TOKYO – Upcoming Riku Masuda made it a short night for Jonas Sultan after knocking out the Filipino in the first round of their non-title bantamweight bout on Saturday night at the Kokugikan Arena.
The Japanese hardly broke a sweat as a straight left to the side of the body sent the favored Sultan reeling in pain to the canvas.
The 32-year-old Sultan tried to get up and beat the 10-count but fell on one knee as referee Michiaki Someya waived off the fight at the 51-mark of the first round.
“It was my left body punch. It felt good,” said the southpaw Japanese from Hiroshima of the knockout punch.
The 26-year-old Masuda improved to 4-1 (4 KOs).
Sultan, who ironically arrived from the US just two days before the fight, admitted to being caught with the perfect body punch.
"Pinilit kong tumayo, pero hindi ako makahinga. Masakit talaga," he said.
Sultan, who trained in Los Angeles for the fight, fell to a 19-7 record (11 KOs).
He once fought Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF super-flyweight crown and lost by unanimous decision.
In 2022 as a late replacement for Johnriel Casimero, Sultan also lost by the same result against Paul Butler for the interim WBO bantamweight crown.
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