Champion Riku Kunimoto of Muto Boxing Gym hammered out a 10-round unanimous decision over top-ranked Mikio Sakai of Kadoebi Boxing Gym to retain the Japanese middleweight title on Aug. 5 in Osaka.

It was the 26-year-old Kunimoto’s second successful defense of the title he won by decisioning Sakai for the vacant title on Apr. 17 last year. Sakai thus failed to avenge his loss.

While there were no knockdowns during the fight at the city’s Sumiyoshi Ward Center, Kunimoto landed more effective punches, including uppercuts and body shots, in the fight. All three judges scored the fight 97-93 in favor of Kunimoto.

  With the victory, Kunimoto upped his record to nine wins, including three KOs, against a loss. For his part, the 29-year-old Sakai fell to a 5-2-1 win-loss-draw tally.