Canoy captures OPBF crown

Joey Canoy flattened Japanese Kenichi Horikawa in the seventh round to bag the vacant Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation light-flyweight crown Sunday at the EDION Arena in Osaka.

In a slugfest, Canoy and Horikawa each had their moments in the scheduled 12-rounder when the Filipino suddenly unloaded with a left uppercut that landed squarely on Horikawa's kisser.

Horikawa collapsed to the deck, his feet lifting up  in the air before staying motionless, compelling the referee to call a halt immediately to the fight.

Medical practitioners got up the ring to examine the fallen Horikawa as Canoy celebrated his sensational win with his handlers.

Fighting out of the JC Mananquil Dtable of General Santos City, the southpaw Canoy, a 29-year-old professional, thus boosted his record to 19-5-2 with 11 knockouts.

Horikawa, who has been a pro the last 22 years, fell to 41-18-1 with 14 knockouts.

Just before the knockout, Horikawa blew his nose and a spray of blood came out, forcing Canoy to stand back momentarily before letting go of that uppercut that settled the issue once and for all.