The World Boxing Organization’s fifth-ranked Asia-Pacific super bantamweight TJ Doheny of Ireland battered champion Kazuki Nakajima of Ohashi Boxing Gym into submission in the fourth round to wrest the title on June 29 in Tokyo.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 12-rounder at Korakuen Hall came 2 minutes and 32 seconds into the round when the left-handed Doheny, who now resides in Australia, dropped Nakajima, 30, with a barrage of right and left combinations. While Nakajima, also a southpaw, struggled to his feet, Doheny decked him again with a combination punch. The gutsy Nakajima wobbled to his feet. But the referee waved off the fight.

With the victory, the 36-year-old Doheny, who was a former International Boxing Federation world super bantamweight champion, improved his record to 24 wins, including 19 KOs, against four losses. Nakajima, who failed in his first defense of the title he captured in February this year, impaired to a 14-2-1 win-loss-draw tally with 12 KOs.

Meanwhile, second-ranked Japanese super bantamweight Toshiki Shimomachi of Green Tsuda Boxing Gym pounded out a unanimous decision over fifth-ranked Ryuto Owan of Shisei Boxing Gym and won the vacant title as the chief supporting card for the day’s WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight title.

The title was left vacant by Gakuya Furuhashi of Kawasaki Nitta Boxing Gym who announced his retirement from boxing last January.

The tall left-handed Shimomachi controlled the fight throughout by landing right jabs and straight lefts at a crucial juncture.

Aware he is behind on points after the fifth round, Owan, 25, visibly moved forward from the sixth round by throwing wild punches, which the 26-year-old Shimomachi fended off with his tight block and body movement the rest of the way.

With the win, Shimomachi improved his record to 17 wins, including 11 KOs, against a loss and two draws, while Owan fell to a 10-2 win-loss tally with six KOs.