Pictured: former WBA Asia minimumweight champion and new WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight champ Riku Kano


During the three-day period of Monday, November 23 through Wednesday, November 25, there were two bouts featuring fighters not currently ranked by TTR which may impact TTR's rankings. Those bouts were won by former world title challengers Riku Kano and Norihito Tanaka.

Kano, who lost by a 6-round technical decision to Katsunari Takayanma when fighting for the vacant WBO World mini-flyweight title on August 20, 2016, overcame a knockdown to earn a hard-fought, split decision victory over his compatriot Ryoji Hirai. With the win, Kano, 24, becomes the new WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight champion.

The 35-year-old Tanaka, who dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to WBA Super World minimumweight champion Knockout CP Freshmart (birth name: Thammanoon Niyomtrong) on March 3 of this year, bounced back with a spirited win over countryman Yuni Takada.


Monday, November 23, 2020-

Tokyo, Japan-

Vacant WBO Asia Pacific Junior Flyweight Title-
Riku Kano (WBC #24; 17-4-1, 8 KOs)
Split Dec. 12
Ryoki Hirai (WBC #29 at 105; 13-7-1, 4 KOs)
- The scores were 116-111 for Kano (WBO Asia Pacific #1, JBC #2, OPBF #11- all at 108), 114-113 for Hirai (WBO Asia Pacific #2 at 108; JBC #5, OPBF #15- both at 105), and 114-113 for Kano.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020-

Tokyo, Japan-

Strawweight Bout-
Norihito Tanaka (WBC #11, WBA #15; 20-8, 10 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 8
Yuni Takada (8-6-2, 3 KOs)
- The bout was the main event of "GENKOTSU Vol 8" which took place at Tokyo's famed Korakuen Hall.
- Tanaka (WBO Asia Pacific #3, OPBF #4) won by the scores of 79-73, 78-75, and 77-75.