World Boxing Association flyweight champion Seigo ‘’Yuri’’ Akui of Kurashiki Moriyasu Boxing Gym hammered out a unanimous decision over third-ranked Taku Kuwahara of Ohashi Boxing Gym to retain his title on May 6 in Tokyo.

  The fight served as the first of the four world championship fights dubbed ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 8’’ at Tokyo Dome.

  After the 12-round fight, two of the three judges scored the fight 117-111, respectively for Akui and the other judge saw it 118-110, also for Akui. There were no knockdowns in the fight.

  It was the 28-year-old Akui’s first successful defense of the title he won from Artem Dalakian of Ukaraine this past January.

  Akui also rejected Kuwahara’s another shot at Akui as he stopped Kuwahara in the 10th and the final round to retain his then Japanese flyweight crown in July 2021.

  The 29-year-old Kuwahara moved side to side while throwing left hooks. But the tight-guarded Akui countered him by throwing left jabs and straight rights and continued to press forward.

  This pattern of boxing continued the rest of the way.

After the fight, Akui said, ‘’I want to express my appreciation to my family members and team Akui. The Kuwahara today was stronger than the Kuwahara before. But it was my day. I will also do my best in my next fight.’’

With the win, Akui improved his record to 20 wins, including 11 knockouts, against two losses and a draw, while Kuwahara fell to a 13-2 win-loss tally with eight KOs.