Valu Sazanami captures the OPBF lightweight title with an explosive technical knockout in Tokyo

The historic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, experienced another memorable day for women’s boxing this past March 12.

In a power-to-power duel, Japanese Valu Sazanami rose to glory by capturing the vacant lightweight title of the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), an organization affiliated with the WBC.

On a gala card presented by World Sports, Sazanami faced the experienced Filipina Carleans Rivas. From the beginning, the local fighter imposed conditions, using an aggressive and precise offense that gradually wore down the visitor’s resistance.

The outcome occurred in the fifth round, when Sazanami intensified her punishment, forcing referee Sayumi Okaniwa to stop the fight at 1’38” of the round upon noticing that Rivas could not continue. With this forceful victory by technical knockout (TKO),

Valu Sazanami establishes herself as the new monarch of the division in the region, adding a vital achievement to her career.

The supervision of the event was in charge of Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, with a panel of judges composed of Koji Tanaka, Kasutoshi Yoshida, and Takeru Okaniwa.