Boxer left crumpled under corner post in vicious Knockout of the Year contender

Japanese boxer Kai Watanabe scored one of the most brutal knockouts of the year on Tuesday afternoon.

The 23-year-old rendered compatriot Rentaro Kimura unconscious in the second round of their high-stakes clash at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Lemino

Both men had been competing for a place in the final of a super featherweight tournament staged by Dangan Promotions.

The winner of the competition is due to pocket a whopping 10 million yen (£47,444), more than double the average salary in Japan.

Watanabe (18-3-1) progressed to the semis with a disciplined unanimous decision victory over Eigo.

But the former Japanese youth super featherweight champion has quickly established a reputation as a dangerous gunslinger with dynamite in both hands.

While his 11 stoppages from 18 wins are somewhat deceiving, his highlight reel of vicious knockouts is not.

In August 2024, Watanabe folded Toshihiro Suzuki with a crunching left hook to claim the WBO Asia Pacific 130lbs title.

And earlier today, he added another vicious inside-the-distance win to his growing résumé.

Watanabe spent the majority of the fight boxing off the back foot, luring Kimura into sharp counters.

Early in the second round, he decked Kimura with a hellacious left hook.

While Kimura made his way back to his feet, he was quickly sent tumbling back down to the canvas.

As Watanabe stepped in with a feint, the Tachikawa puncher whipped a left hook onto Kimura’s temple before following up with a right hand.

The combination left Kimura crumpled under the corner post as the fight was immediately waved off.

In the other semi-final bout, Riku Kitani and Keisuke Matsumoto boxed to an eight-round split draw.

Kitani ended up advancing to the final after the tallies were counted back.

Watanabe and Kitani will now duke it out for the eight-figure prize in December.

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