Hiroto Kyoguchi’s run as the WBA light flyweight champion continues with a fairly dominant win in Chiba, Japan.
Kyoguchi made his first successful title defense with a 12-round unanimous decision win against Tanawat Nakoon. Kyoguchi won with scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 117-112.
The fight saw Kyoguchi apply pressure early and step forward to try and overwhelm Nanoon. The challenger was able to overcome that and even landed some decent punches, but it did little to damage Kyoguchi. When the second half of the bout commenced, Kyoguchi did outwork Nanoon, who wasn’t able to keep up with the champion, save for the 11th round that did provide some decent action from Nanoon, but nowhere near enough to turn the tables in his favor.
Kyoguchi, a former IBF minimumweight world champion, moved up in weight last year after two title defenses at 105 pounds. Kyoguchi won the WBA title when he stopped Hekkie Budler in the 10th round of their title fight back on December 31 in Macau, China. The 25-year-old Kyoguchi holds the WBA’s “Super” version of the title while Carlos Canizales holds the WBA’s “Regular” version of the belt which he defended in China against Sho Kimura back on May 26.
The fight was one of three world title fights that took place on that card. Only the main event, a WBO super flyweight title bout between Kazuto Ioka and Aston Palicte, was streamed on UFC Fight Pass worldwide outside of Japan. Ioka won the belt by stopping Palicte in the 10th round.
