YOKOHAMA – Japanese second-ranked challenger Shokichi Iwata reclaimed the WBC light flyweight title on Sunday after beating Thai champion Knockout CP Freshmart by a unanimous eighth-round technical decision during a world title tripleheader.
The 30-year-old Iwata lost in his first title defense last March but used his superior speed from the first round at Yokohama Buntai to overwhelm CP Freshmart, who was defending the belt for the first time.
“I’ve been hoping to climb my way back at any cost every day,” said Iwata, who had his opponent up against the ropes in the sixth round and was on top throughout the bout until the referee intervened in the eighth.
“I’ve trained to never stop moving my feet. If I can fight twice more this year, I want to win them both.”
Japanese champion Ryusei Matsumoto defended his WBA minimumweight belt for the first time after beating compatriot Yuni Takada by a unanimous decision.
When they first fought last September, Matsumoto won by a technical decision following an injury to Takada, ranked fourth in the division.
“I wanted to show an overwhelming performance,” Matsumoto said. “I’ve outgrown Japan. I want to fight against strong boxers from around the world.”
In the WBO flyweight, Anthony Olascuaga of the United States defended his belt for the fifth time by seeing off sixth-ranked Japanese challenger Jukiya Iimura with a ninth-round technical knockout.
Fighting on the same card, Japan’s Riku Masuda beat former five-division world champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in a WBA bantamweight title elimination.
Masuda knocked down the 43-year-old Donaire with a left straight in the seventh round en route to an eighth-round technical knockout.