Muto Upsets WBO#1 Fujita, Wins WBO AP 126lb Belt

By Joe Koizumi

Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Upset! Previously unbeaten WBO#1 featherweight Kenji Fujita (10-1, 5 KOs; amateur 153-21), 125.75, was upset by unheralded challenger Ryota Muto (10-1-1, 6 KOs), 125.25, on an unexpected TKO defeat, losing his WBO Asia Pacific 126-pound belt on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. Time was 2:13 in round seven, when the referee Tanaka declared a halt to save the dethroned champ from further punishment. From the outset Muto, eleven years his junior at 21...