World Boxing Council interim minimumweight champion Yudai Shigeoka of Watanabe Boxing Gym pounded out a one-sided decision over champion Panya Pradabsri of Thailand on Oct. 7 in their title unification fight in Tokyo and became a real champion in the division.

  While there were no knockdowns during the 12-round fight at Ota City General Gymnasium, the left-handed Shigeoka controlled the fight throughout. Two of the three judges scored the fight 119-109 and the remaining Judge had it 117-111, all in favor of Shigeoka.

  The fight was realized after the hiatus of six months as Panya suddenly cancelled his visit to Japan to defend his title against Shigeoka last April citing he caught the flu shortly before. Shigeoka then faced Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico and won the WBC interim minimumweight title. Panya stopped Norihito Tanaka of Misako Boxing gym in Thailand in June to successfully defend his title for the fourth time.

  While both exchanged fierce blows, it was Shigeoka who connected with more accurate punches to the head and body throughout the fight, although the more experienced Panya did not show any sign of visible damage.

  At the end of the eighth round, all three judges scored the fight 79-73 for Shigeoka.

  Though Panya, who had about 200 fights as a Muay Thai fighter before becoming a professional boxer, desperately came forward in the 12^th and final round, he failed to land decisive punches, and Shigeoka ended the fight on top.

  After the fight, Shigeoka said, ‘’I want to congratulate myself today either by KO or decision win. I will respect Pany because I think it took courage for him to fight outside the country. I want to next fight with the World Boxing Organization champion from the United States (Oscar Collazo).’’

  With the victory, the 26-year-old Shigeoka extended his unbeaten record to eight wins, including five KOs, while it was the 32-year-old Panya’s second defeat as he fell to a 40-2 win-loss tally with 24 KOs.

  The fight was held as the chief supporting card for’’3150FIGHT vol.7.’’