NAGOYA -- Kosei Tanaka tied a world boxing record when he wrested the WBO flyweight title from compatriot Sho Kimura on Monday, giving him a third world belt in just 12 pro fights.
Tanaka, the top-ranked challenger in the division, scored a 2-0 decision (the other judge ruled it a draw) in the 12-round title fight at Takeda Teva Ocean Arena in Nagoya.
This added the flyweight title to the WBO crowns he had previously won in the light flyweight and minimumweight classes to improve to 12-0, with seven knockouts.
By winning three crowns in just 12 fights, Tanaka equaled the pro boxing record set by Ukraine's Vasiliy Lomachenko for fastest to achieve the feat. The Japan record had been 16 fights, set by Naoya Inoue.
The 23-year-old Tanaka made his pro debut in 2013 and won the minimumweight title in 2015 in his fifth career fight, also a Japan record. He added the light flyweight belt in 2016 before taking on Kimura, who was making the third defense of his title.
In the 12th and final round, both were fighting on pure desire, with each landing punches. At the final bell, they smiled and exchanged a hug.
Both fighters offered high praise for the other, with Tanaka adding, "It's a match I'll never forget for the rest of my life."
Tanaka took control of the match in the second round, when a left hook made Kimura wobble. With his superior speed, he found openings in Kimura's defense, while often causing his opponent to swing at nothing but air.
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