America's most active current major titlist once again found success abroad.
Anthony Olascuaga wrapped up 2025 with his third win on the year and his 4th overall title defense after a 4th round technical knockout of Taku Kuwahara. A series of power shots by the defending WBO 112lbs titlist left Kuwahara defenseless, which forced the stoppage at 2:35 of the 4th round Wednesday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Despite his Los Angeles mailing address, Olascuaga was very much at home as he fought abroad for the 6th time in his last seven starts. Literally half of his career has taken place in Tokyo, including his 4th round knockout of Riku Kano last July 20 to win the title in this very arena.
Yokohama's Kuwahara, 14-3 (9 KOs), vowed to represent Olascauga's toughest challenge to date. His lone defeats both came at the hands of Seigo Yurki Akui, before and during Akui's prior WBA 112lbs title reign.
Akui has since lost his belt but returned with a 3rd round knockout on the undercard of Wednesday's show.
There were moments where the Ohashi Promotions-represented Kuwaharr lived up to that claim, whenever he was able to find his distance and gain leverage on straight right hands. They didn't come nearly often enough, however, against the significantly stronger Olascuaga who simply landed more and in more punishing fashion.
The beginning of the end came in the final minute of the 4th round. Olascuaga, 11-1 (8 KOs) was dialed in with his left hook and drove Kuwahara across the ring. Kuwahara was literally trapped in a corner as Olascuaga unloaded with right hands around the guard and left hooks.
In his best effort to escape, Kuwahata broke free from the corner but with his gloves pinned to his face and having not offered return fire. His lack of offensive response was enough to prompt referee Robert Hoyle to intervene.
Olascuaga has now racked up four title defenses in his 17-month stay as WBO 112lbs claimant. Three have come in 2025, including a rare title fight appearance on U.S. soil when he blasted out Juan Carlos Camacho inside of two rounds on September 11 in Las Vegas.
The abovementioned bout served as part of a U-Next title fight tripleheader topped by the Seiya Tsutsumi-Nonito Donaire WBA 118lbs title consolidation clash.
