TOKYO -- Going into the 11th round of the title fight, Andy "The Blade" Hiraoka had yet to shake off a hard-hitting opponent who was pushing him all the way.
Having gracefully dodged dozens of wild swings, the southpaw then fired a straight left and unleashed a right uppercut to put the slugger on the canvas. The referee stepped in to end the contest -- Hiraoka's longest-ever fight -- and the 25-year-old from Yokohama was crowned super-lightweight champion of Japan and Asia.
