Riyuna Yoshikawa of Diamante Boxing Gym hammered out an eight-round unanimous decision over former Japanese atomweight champion Kaoru Iga of Shinsei Boxing Gym to retain the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific female minimumweight title on May 3 in Osaka Prefecture.

It was the 21-year-old Yoshikawa’s first successful defense of the title she captured by decisioning Norji Guro of the Philippines for the vacant title last November.

Fighting at Yayoinokaze Hall of Izumi City Plaza, Yoshikawa piled up points by connecting with overhand rights and left hooks effectively, although there were no knockdowns in the fight.

While the 30-year-old Iga came out strong in the eighth and the final round, Yoshikawa fended off the offense and ended the fight on top.

With the victory, Yoshikawa improved her record to six wins, including a knockout, against a loss and a draw. For her part, Iga fell to a 6-3-1 win-loss-draw tally.