Yusuke Kobori stopped champion Jose Alfaro in the third round Monday to successfully claim the WBA lightweight crown on his first attempt in a world title match.
Kobori, a 26-year-old former Japan and OPBF super featherweight champion, became the third Japanese boxer to win a lightweight title following Guts Ishimatsu in 1974 and Takanori Hatakeyama in 2000.
Kobori, ranked seventh by the WBA, hit the canvas once when Alfaro tagged him with a hard left hook-right jab combination in the second round.
But Kobori roared back in the third, stunning Alfaro with a left hook to the jaw for a knockdown before showering the Nicaraguan champion with a series of blows as the referee called an end to the bout at 2 minutes, 8 seconds at Differ Ariake.
"I am happy," Kobori said. "I had practiced that left hook in training but it just came out naturally. I felt like I was really in a tight spot, but I really hate losing. A lot of people supported me to make this fight happen and I was able to be aggressive."
Kobori improved to 23-2-1 (12 knockouts). The 24-year-old Alfaro, who was making his first title defense, slipped to 20-4 (18 KOs) with one no contest.
"I could have gained control of the match with just two more rounds, but Kobori hit me with that left hook and I fell. I couldn't fight the way I normally do," Alfaro said.