Top-ranked challenger Salim Medjkoune of France walked away with the World Boxing Association's super-bantamweight crown Wednesday after giving Japanese champion Osamu Sato a 12-round lesson in boxing.
The 30-year-old southpaw repeatedly slipped away from Sato's straight-ahead style of attack and often punctuated each escape with a right hook that took its toll in the later rounds at Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
Medjkoune was the clear winner on all cards.
The victory improves Medjkoune's record to 40 wins, including 21 knockouts, against three losses and a draw in 44 fights.
Sato, who snared the title with a surprise knockout win over previously unbeaten Yoddamrong Singwangcha of Thailand in May, saw his record slip to 26-2-2 with 15 knockouts.