Japan's Takefumi Sakata avenged his loss in December by beating Roberto Vasquez of Panama to defend the World Boxing Association flyweight title on Sunday. There was no knockdown in the scheduled 12 rounds but Sakata took the initiative to send Vasquez to the ropes, unleashing numerous hooks from both sides to dominate the bout after the fourth round.
Three judges scored it 115-113, 116-113 and 116-112 all in favour of the Japanese champion. "I feel like I became the real champion today. I'm not going to lose the title, I'm determined to continue to win it," said a jubilant Sakata, 27.
It was his first defence of the title he took from Lorenzo Parra of Venezuela by a technical knockout in March, stretching his record to 31 wins, including 15 KOs, against four defeats and a draw. Vasquez, a former WBA light flyweight champion who defeated Sakata to become the "interim" champion in December while Parra was unable to defend his title, saw his record reduced to 24 wins, including 17 KOs, against two defeats.