Saito Beats Saito, Wins Vacant Japan’s 135lb Belt

By Joe Koizumi

Photos by Naoki Fukuda

A very classic-style fight of yesteryear was seen on Wednesday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan—a truly brutal pier-six brawl. JBC #2 Shinnosuke Saito (17-6, 6 KOs), 134.25, seized the vacant Japanese lightweight belt as he avenged his KO defeat from two years ago, pounding out a close but unanimous decision (all 96-94) over JBC #1 Yoji Saito (9-5-2, 9 KOs), 134.75, across ten furiously competitive rounds.

The battle of the Saitos saw the tide shift constantly...