Katsunari Takayama vs Go Odaira IBF/WBO Minimumweight title bout, December 31, 2014

OSAKA, JAPAN -- Katsunari Takayama is now a two-time strawweight titlist, the latest coming in a 7th round stoppage of countryman Go Odaira in a rare vacant unification title fight Wednesday evening in Osaka, Japan. The 31-year old was able to rebound well from the punishing demands of his 12-round war with Francisco Rodriguez Jr. earlier this year, a bout that has earned worldwide accolades. His title reign came to an end that night, falling short in their unification match on the road in Mexico, but on a night where both fighters' stock skyrocketed given the savage nature of their fight. Rodriguez Jr. decided the fight was to be his last at strawweight, vacating both titles in the process. Both sanctioning bodies involved (IBF and WBO) agreed to make their titles available for this fight, rather than sanction separate vacant title fights, in the latest of a series of moves suggesting the alphabets are finally trying to do right by the sport. (more)