The World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific lightweight champion Katsuya Yasuda of Ohashi Boxing Gym hammered out a lopsided 12-round decision over third-ranked Jung Min Ho of South Korea to retain the title on Sept. 12 in Tokyo.

  It was the 31-year-old Yasuda’s first defense of the title he captured in this past June by decisioning Apichet Petchmanee of Thailand.

  There were no knockdowns in the fight at Korakuen Hall.

While both started out cautiously, the left-handed Yasuda landed well-timed straight lefts to the head and body from around the fourth round and stayed on top throughout the fight.

  Though the 30-year-old Jung, who beat highly touted Hironori Mishiro of Yokohama Hikari Boxing Gym in April in South Korea, tried to rally during the latter part of the fight, Yasuda did not allow him to land decisive blows.

  With the victory, Yasuda improved his record to 12 wins, including seven KOs, against a loss. For his part, Jung fell to a 15-5-2 win-loss-draw tally with four KOs.