World Boxing Organization’s 11th-ranked super bantamweight Ryo Akaho of Yokohama Hikari Boxing Gym hammered out an eight-round unanimous decision over Mugicha Nakagawa of Ichiriki Boxing Gym in a nontitle bout on Apr. 2 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

While there were no knockdowns during the eight-round bout, the 35-year-old Akaho managed to overpower his opponent from around the middle of the fight and stayed on top.

Nakagawa, 33, who was fighting his first fight in two years and eight months, staggered Akaho late in the first round with an overhand right only to fail to land a decisive blow.

With the victory, Akaho, who held on to the hope for his third world title challenge, improved his record to 38 wins, including 25 KOs, against two losses and two draws. For his part, Nakagawa impaired to a 24-8-2 win-loss-draw tally with 14 KOs.

The fight served as a chief supporting card for the day’s vacant Japanese super welterweight title match between top-ranked Koki Koshikawa of the Ichiriki gym and second ranked Makoto Kawasaki of RK Kamata Boxing Family gym.