Daiya Kira KO7 Carlos Cañizales... Daiya Kira passed the toughest test of his professional career to date, knocking out former WBC champion Carlos “CCC” Cañizales in the seventh round to capture the WBA light flyweight title in Yokohama. It is a great accomplishment for Kira, who is just 5-0 as a professional, but the accomplishment should have an asterisk next to it because the world title became vacant and available for Kira to fight for only because of corrupt WBA shenanigans. The real WBA 108-pound champion is René Santiago, but the WBA abruptly demoted Santiago to champion in recess in July, allegedly due to inactivity / recovery from medical issues, thus clearing the path for the Kira vs. Cañizales vacant title fight. As for the fight itself, it began at a furious pace. The Venzuelan Cañizales, true to his aggressive fighting style, came out determined to impose himself at close range, driving Kira toward the ropes and landing heavy hooks to the body in an effort to slow down the local fighter’s movement. Kira, however, absorbed the early pressure with remarkable composure.

 

As the fight progressed, he began to solve the Venezuelan’s attacks through precise work at mid-range and a sharp, quick counter jab that allowed him to take control of the action. The dramatic finish came in the decisive seventh round. After making Cañizales miss with a forward attack, Kira found the perfect opening and unleashed a straight right hand combination to the chin that sent the Venezuelan crashing backward to the canvas. “CCC” attempted to rise, but the damage had been done. The referee reached the count of ten, bringing the contest to a definitive conclusion and sparking celebrations throughout the Yokohama venue.