By MARK REY MONTEJO
Rising star Michael Casama unleashed deadly combinations and scored a technical knockout win over Japan’s prospect Kota Kaneko in the opening round of their eight-round bout in the featherweight division at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last weekend.
Casama, 23, landed a series of powerful punches, leaving the former undefeated Kaneko badly hurt and bewildered.
The battering was fast and furious, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:05 mark of the first canto.
The emerging pug of President Roxas, North Cotabato thus captured his 10th KO win against two draws and one defeat.
The win also enabled Casama to avenge the defeat of Bohol’s Jhunrille Castino to Kaneko only last March.
The two fought almost evenly early on but it was briefly broken when Casama came through with a whistling left hook that wobbled the legs of the Japanese.
That was the sign Casama wanted to see and unloaded a barrage of punches.
