Challenger Masamori Tokuyama, a pro-Pyongyang Korean resident of Japan whose real name is Hong Chang Soo, won a unanimous points decision over South Korea's Cho In Joo on Sunday to capture the World Boxing Council super-flyweight title.
Tokuyama, the former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super-fly champion, sent Cho to the canvas with a big right in the fourth round at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium to set the tone for the first-ever world title bout between a North and South Korean.
Working behind a stiff left jab, the Tokyo-born Tokuyama, ranked fourth by the WBC, continued to dictate the tempo of the fight and frustrate Cho, who was attempting the sixth defense of his title and came into the ring unbeaten in 18 pro contests.
The 29-year-old Cho had little left in the tank in the latter rounds, while Tokuyama made a mockery of question marks over his stamina by sustaining an assault of left-right combinations.
"I wasn't sure if he was trying to trick me," said the 25-year-old Tokuyama.
The trio of American judges all went big for Tokuyama, with Henry Elespuru scoring it 117-109, Lou Filippo 119-107 and Dalby Shirley 116-110.
Japanese television reportedly declined to broadcast the fight because of its potential political ramifications, while neither country's national anthem was played.