Jin Sasaki claimed the Japanese welterweight title in Tokyo, Japan, with a bruising six-round beatdown of David Ssemujju on Monday.
It marks the third consecutive victory for Sasaki since he was stopped by Brian Norman Jnr in the fifth round of a June 2025 bid for the WBO title at 147lbs.
Sasaki, 22-2-1 (19 KOs), was typically aggressive from the start but wild. Even so, the attacks had the desired effect in the second round.
Ssemujju, born in Uganda and based in Japan, evaded four wild swings before opting to hold and take a breather. Sasaki was not in the mood to stop, however. Two more shots were bowled in – one from each hand – which landed on the top of Ssemujju’s head and sent him to the canvas. Up at ‘four’, Ssemujju would then survive the round.
Sasaki had further success in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds, again from wide looping blows, but one sensed a more educated opponent might block or avoid the telegraphed blows. Ssemujju, however, could do little more than try to fire back.
In doing so, he allowed Sasaki to do his worst.
The end came after 58 seconds of the sixth. Japan’s Sasaki, with his guard high, blocked a shot coming his way before firing one of his own, a right hook, that Ssemujju did not see coming. Upon impact, he stumbled and Sasaki chucked a left hand to send his man down for a second time.
Though he regained his footing quickly, the referee refused to let the fight continue when Ssemujju, 9-2-1 (5 KOs), was unable to walk towards him.
