On Sunday, June 12, one of Japan’s largest kickboxing promotions returned to the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo for KRUSH 66.
In the evening’s main event, the KRUSH 63-kilogram title was up for grabs when 18-year-old K-1 Koshien champion Ren Hiramoto attempted to fend off Daizo Sasaki in his bid for his first major title. Hiramoto continued his growth as a top prospect with solid performances against some of the top fighters in the division in losing efforts to Minoru Kimura and Massaro Glunder. Sasaki had hype of his own after finishing in the final eight of the 2011 KRUSH Youth Grand Prix as a 15-year-old.
In the evening’s co-main event, J-Network and WPMF Japan champion Yuta Ueba fought Yoshiki Takei in the promotion’s inaugural 53-kilogram championship. Ueba carried a large experience advantage heading into the championship bout with the 19-year-old Takei.
The event aired live at 5 a.m. ET on AmebaTV.
Yoshiki Takei def. Yuta Ueba by knockout. Round 1, 1:43 – KRUSH 53-kilogram championship
Hitoshi Tsukakoshi def. Jin Hirayama by knockout. Round 2, 2:38
Keisuke Ishida def. Jockeyleck GT Gym by knockout. Round 1, 2:26
Yuta Otaki def. Sho-ya by unanimous decision (extension round)
Yuya Suzuki def. Taisuke Degai by unanimous decision (30-28 x3)
Yuta “Dynamite” Takahashi def. Junpei Aotsu by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-29, 30-29)
Tomohiro Kitai def. Kazuhito Hara by knockout. Round 3, 2:26
Takumi Yokoyama def. Shota by knockout. Round 1, 1:55
Taito Gunji def. Hiroto Ishitsuka by knockout. Round 2, 2:05
Reiji Kasami def. Hayato Tanishima by knockout. Round 1, 1:44
Masahiro Suzuki vs. Toranosuke Araki ruled a majority draw (29-28 Araki, 28-28, 28-28)
Ryohei Akimoto def. Hiroko Kokubo by knockout. Round 1, 0:40