Second-ranked Japanese super flyweight Kenta Nakagawa of Misako Boxing Gym pounded out a lopsided 10-round decision over top-ranked Hiroyuki Kudaka of Nakazato of Nakazato Boxing Gym to win the vacant Japanese title on Apr. 23 at EDION Arena Osaka’s annex.

It was the third time for the 36-year-old Nakagawa to become the Japanese super flyweight kingpin. Southpaw Nakagawa floored Kudaka, 37, in the sixth round with a right uppercut and defeated him by a large margin of seven to nine points on three judges’ scorecards.

The title was left vacant by Ryoji Fukunaga of Kadoebi Boxing Gym in preparation for his challenge to World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing gym for the latter’s title on Dec. 31 last year, in which Fukunaga dropped a 12-round decision.

With the victory, Nakagawa improved his record to 21 wins, including 12 knockouts, against four losses and a draw. For his part, seasoned veteran Kudaka fell to a 28-19-4 win-loss-draw tally with 11 KOs. Kudaka announced his retirement from boxing.