Japan's Shoji "Celes" Kobayashi stopped champion Leo Gamez in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-rounder Sunday to relieve the veteran Venezuelan of his World Boxing Association super flyweight title.
Kobayashi sent Gamez to the canvas with a left hook, and referee Armand Garcia of the United States waved the fight over, giving the former Japanese flyweight champion victory by technical knockout 2 minutes and 9 seconds into the 10th round at Yokohama Arena.
Attempting his second shot at a world title after drawing with champion Malcolm Tunacao of the Philippines in a World Boxing Council flyweight match last August, Kobayashi scored heavily as he went to work on the body of the 37-year-old Gamez.