The World Boxing Organization’s top-ranked Asia-Pacific super flyweight Kenta Nakagawa of Misako Boxing Gym pounded out a 12-round unanimous decision over the 12th-ranked Akio Furutani of Muto Boxing Gym and won the vacant WBO title on Feb. 14 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

Though Furutani got off to a good start by landing a straight right to the head, the 37-year-old Nakagawa, who relinquished the Japanese super flyweight title three times to aim at a world title challenge, controlled the fight throughout with his well-timed right jabs and left punches to the head and body from his southpaw stance while moving side to side.

The 25-year-old Furutani, who bled from between the eyebrows and above his right eyelid due to accidental head butts earlier in the fight, occasionally rallied with a barrage of left-and-right combinations, particularly in the 10th round.

But Nakagawa counted his offense by chiefly working Furutani’s body with left hooks and ended the fight on top. There were no knockdowns throughout the fight.

The title was left vacant by Tsubasa Murachi of Surugadanji Boxing Gym without defending the title he captured last October.

After the fight, Nakagawa said, ‘’I will never give up getting an opportunity to challenge a world title.’’
With the victory, Nakagawa improved his record to 23 wins, including 12 knockouts, against four losses and a draw. For his part, Furutani impaired to a 10-6 win-loss tally with three KOs.