Tokyo Thrill - Ryota Toyoshima dethrones reigning monarch Tsukuru Midorikawa to become No.1

Ryota Toyoshima crowned new OPBF super-welterweight champion Tsukuru Midorikawa in Tokyo

In a thrilling night of boxing at Tokyo’s iconic Korakuen Hall, Japanese fighter Ryota Toyoshima (24-3-1, 13 KOs) was crowned the new Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super-welterweight champion after defeating reigning monarch Tsukuru Midorikawa (6-1, 4 KOs) by unanimous decision on August 16.

The bout, presented by Teiken Promotions, carried special significance as a unification clash.

Toyoshima put his WBO Asia Pacific title on the line and successfully defended it, exiting the ring as a dual champion in the division. The 30-year-old born in Fukuoka has also been an OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific titlist at welterweight too.

From the opening bell, Toyoshima dictated the pace of the fight, displaying superior accuracy and distance control against a courageous and undefeated Midorikawa, 39, who did not yield ground easily.

However, the challenger’s dominance was clearly reflected on the judges’ scorecards at the end of the scheduled 10 rounds:

• Surat Soikrachang: 99-91
• Katsuhiko Nakamura: 98-92
• Kazutoshi Yoshida: 98-92

Joshua Hamilton served as the referee for the contest, while official title supervision was handled by Tsuyoshi Yasukochi.

With this decisive unanimous decision victory, Ryota Toyoshima solidifies his position as the No.1 super-welterweight in Japan and takes a firm step toward a world title opportunity, ranked WBA #11 and WBO #12.