Top-ranked Riku Kunimoto of Muto Boxing Gym pounded out a 10-round unanimous decision over second-ranked Mikio Sakai of Kadoebi Boxing Gym and won the vacant Japanese middleweight title on Apr. 17 in Osaka.

While there were no knockdowns during the fight at the city’s Sumiyoshi Ward Center, the 24-year-old Kunimoto landed frequent left jabs and overpowered Sakai, 28, with his active boxing.

The title was left vacant by Kazuto Takesako of World Sports Boxing Gym, who knocked out Kunimoto in the first round in his title defense in May last year. Takesako, 30, is currently the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation middleweight champion.

With the victory, Kunimoto improved his record to six wins, including two KOs, against a loss. For his part, it was the first defeat for Sakai after posting the four straight decision victory since making his professional debut as a class-B license boxer in August 2019. Sakai was the captain of Tokyo University of Agriculture boxing club.