The World Boxing Organization’s top-ranked Asia-Pacific female light flyweight Yumemi Ikemoto of Ryukyu Boxing Gym stopped second-ranked Niratchaporn Tanomsaksree of Thailand in the fourth round to win the vacant title in Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on July 14.

  The technical knockout of the scheduled eight-rounder at Nakagusu Ward Gymnasium came a minute and 19 seconds into the round when the 28-year-old Ikemoto dropped Niratchaporn with a left hook to the body. While the 27-year-old Thai struggled to her feat to resume the fight, Ikemoto swarmed over her with a barrage of combination blows, prompting the referee to call off the fight.

  With the victory, Ikemoto, who is working as a policewoman for Okinawa Prefectural Police, improved her record to nine wins, including a KO, against two losses. Niratchaporn fell to a 5-2 win-loss tally with two KOs.