Japanese challenger Naoya Inoue, center, celebrates after winning over British champion Jamie McDonnell during their WBA World bantamweight title match in Tokyo Friday, May 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
TOKYO — Naoya Inoue of Japan defeated Britain’s Jamie McDonnell with a first-round knockout on Friday to capture the WBA bantamweight title.
Inoue sent the champion to the canvas with a left hook in the second minute. The 32-year-old McDonnell got to his feet but the referee waved the fight off following a flurry of punches by Inoue.
It was McDonnell’s first defeat in 10 years.
With the victory, Inoue improved to 16-0 with 14 KOs while McDonnell’s record fell to 29-3 with one draw.
Inoue claimed a world title at light-flyweight and moved up to super-flyweight two fights later to pick up another title which he defended six times.
Also, Kenshiro Teraji of Japan defended his WBC light-flyweight crown with a second-round knockout of Mexico’s Ganigan Lopez.