The International Boxing Federation’s fifth-ranked bantamweight Ryosuke Nishida of Muto Boxing Gym hammered out a unanimous decision over sixth-ranked Christian Medina of Mexico in an elimination bout for the vacant IBF title on Aug. 11 in Osaka.

  With the win, the 27-year-old Nishida is expected to face the winner of the other elimination bout between Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico and Melvin Lopez of Nicaragua to be held on Aug. 12 in the United States.

  After the hard-fought 12-round bout held as part of ‘’3150 FIGHT Vol. 6’’ at EDION Arena Osaka, one of the three judges saw the fight 116-112, the second judge scored the fight 117-111 and the third judge had it 118-110 all in favor of Nishida.

  Nishida said after the fight, ‘’It was the hardest fight in my career. My opponent was very strong. I have lots of things to reflect on myself. I felt my opponent’s desperate attempt. I want to boost my stamina so that I can become the second champion from the gym.’’ Now-retired former World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Nobuo Nashiro is the first champion from the gym.

  In this connection, Kameda Promotion Co. President Koki Kameda, popularly known as Kameda founder, said, ‘’I promise I will arrange a world title fight for him, probably around next January.’’

  While the left-handed Nishida got off to a good start by connecting with straight lefts while moving side to side. Though Nishida piled up points earlier in the fight, the 23-year-old Medina showed his mettle in the seventh round by connecting with straight rights to the head and body.

  Both exchanged almost evenly the rest of the way. There were no knockdowns during the fight. The IBF title was left vacant by Nishida’s compatriot Naoya ‘’the Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym earlier this year.

  With the win, Nishida, the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, improved his record to eight straight wins, including a KO, while Medina fell to a 21-4 win-loss result with 14 KOs.