Taku Kuwahara of Ohashi Boxing Gym pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision over Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight champion Giemel Magramo of the Philippines to wrest the title on Oct. 25 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

While there were no knockdowns in the fight, the 27-year-old Kuwahara, ranked 13th by the OPBF, landed heft hooks, left uppercuts and straight rights well by moving side to side, preventing Magramo’s attempt to fight at close range.

It was Kuwahara’s second attempt at a regional title. He was severely knocked out by Japanese flyweight champion Seigo ‘’Yuri’’ Akui of Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym in July last year.

After the fight, Kuwahara said, ‘’I felt pressure because I was given another chance (for a regional title challenge) despite my loss. Ever since my defeat, I have changed my style by making the most of my speed although I had a hard time fending off Magramo (who pressed forward in the latter rounds).’’

‘’While I cannot take a crack at a world title considering today’s performance, I will do my best to serve as a sparring partner of Mr. Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue who will have a world bantamweight title unification match (on Dec. 13). ‘’

With the victory, Kuwahara improved his record to 11 wins, including six knockouts, against a loss. The 28-year-old Magramo, who was knocked out by Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym for the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title match in November 2020, fell to a 26-3 win-loss tally with 21 KOs.

The fight served as the chief supporting card of the main event of the day, which was a nontitle fight between former International Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Ryosuke Iwasa of Celes Boxing Sports Gym and former WBO’s top-ranked featherweight Genesis Llasos Servania of the Philippines of Kashimi Boxing Gym.