The World Boxing Organization’s top-ranked super flyweight Kosei Tanaka of Soul Box Hatanaka Boxing Gym scored a knockdown in the eighth round en route to a 12-round unanimous decision over second-ranked Christian Bacasegua of Mexico and won the vacant WBO title on Feb. 24 in Tokyo.

  With the victory, the 28-year-old Tanaka became Japan’s third boxer to win world titles in four different weight divisions following the World Boxing Association’s current super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym and undisputed world super bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’the Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym.

  The fight was one of the triple world title bill called ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 7‘’ at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.

  The three judges scored the fight 119-108, 117-110 and 116-111, all in favor of Tanaka.

  Tanaka, a former WBO minimumweight, light flyweight and flyweight kingpin, floored Bacasegua, 26, with a left hook to the body followed by a straight right in the eighth round and held on the rest of the way.

  After the fight, Tanaka said, ‘’ I am happy because I badly wanted to win, I next want to fight with the International Boxing Federation’s (super flyweight) champion Fernando Martinez of Argentine.’’

  It was Tanaka’s first world title fight since he was stopped by then WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Ambition GYM (the present Shisei Boxing Gym) in December 2020.

  With the victory, Tanaka improved his record to 20wins, including 11 knockouts, against a loss, while Bacasegua fell to a 22-5-2 win-loss-draw tally with nine KOs.