Yoshio Shirai vs. Leo Espinosa (1st meeting)
Yoshio Shirai 112 lbs lost to Leo Espinosa 114 lbs by RTD at 3:00 in round 7 of 10
- Date: 1953-09-19
- Location: Osaka Stadium, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
- This bout was a tuneup for Shirai's upcoming title defense against Terry Allen on October 8th. However, the title fight had to be postponed until October 27th in order for the cut to heal.
"6th ranking Leo Espinosa of the Philippines scored an upsetting 7th round TKO over world flyweight champion Yoshio Shirai in a non-title 10 round fight tonight. Referee Lt. Edward O'Brien of the US security forces stopped the fight at the end of the 7th round because of a bad cut over Shirai's left eye. Espinosa opened the cut with a left hook in the 1st round and kept jabbing at it as the fight progressed. The Filipino amazed 18,000 fans who jammed the Osaka Baseball Stadium when he floored Shirai in the 4th round with a long right to Shirai's head. Another right sent Shirai down again for another eight count. Espinosa then tore in for a knockout but the bell saved Shirai. Shirai started boring in in the 5th to take the round and the 6th by his aggressiveness. Espinosa started the 7th with a right that started Shirai bleeding from his cut. Shirai tore in desperately but missed wildly as the round ended. Referee O'Brien examined Shirai's cut and deemed him unable to continue." -United Press