Ryoichi Taguchi and Kosei Tanaka retain world titles

Japanese world champions Ryoichi Taguchi and Kosei Tanaka retained their respective WBA light-flyweight and WBO minimumweight belts.

At the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Taguchi (23-2-1-KO10) had to withstand a determined early attack from his Colombian challenger, Luis de la Rosa (24-6-1-KO14).

But as the fight wore on, Taguchi's sharp left jab and accompanying straight rights begun to break down De La Rosa, who quit on his stool before the 10th round to rubber-stamp a second successful defence for the local hero.

There was more drama for Nagoya's Tanaka, who became a world champion in his previous bout - only his fifth as a professional.

An expectant Nagoya crowd were stunned in the fifth round as heavy-hitting Filipino challenger Vic Saludar (11-2-KO9) connected with a searing right - sending their champion tumbling to the canvas.

The 20-year-old Tanaka, who is still at university, showed great resolve to force his way back in to the fight immediately and produce a stunning stoppage in the following session - digging in a vicious body shot with the right that left Saludar unable to continue.

Tanaka had been far behind on all three scorecards when the end came - 50-44, 50-44 and 49-45.