WBO#5 Utsuki Defeats Aoqui, Keeps WBO AP 135lb Belt

By Joe Koizumi

Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Hard-punching WBO #5 Shu Utsuki (18-1, 15 KOs), 134.75, retained his WBO Asia Pacific lightweight belt with a unanimous decision (97-93 twice, 98-92) over Japanese-Brazilian Cristiano Aoqui (19-13-2, 12 KOs), 134.75, across ten rugby-like, rough-and-tumble rounds on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan.

Aoqui kept swarming over the crafty and clever champion, who utilized his footwork and countered throughout. But the challenger occasionally mixed...