Japan's Takashi Miura wins WBC super featherweight title over Diaz

TOKYO (AP) Challenger Takashi Miura of Japan stopped Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz in the ninth round on Monday to claim the WBC super featherweight title. Miura

Takashi Miura thrived as the challenger on his home turf and defeated Gamaliel Diaz :: Shizuo Kambayashi/AP

TOKYO (AP) Challenger Takashi Miura of Japan stopped Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz in the ninth round on Monday to claim the WBC super featherweight title.

Miura sent his opponent to the canvas twice in the ninth before the referee stepped in. The 28-year-old Miura improved to 25-2-2 with 19 KOs.

The 32-year-old Diaz, who was defending the title he won from Japan's Takahiro Aoh in October, dropped to 37-10-2 with 17 KOs.

In another bout, Japan's Akira Yaegashi won the WBC flyweight title, beating compatriot Toshiyuki Igarashi on a unanimous decision. The judges scored it 115-110, 116-109, 117-108.

Yaegashi improved to 17-3-0 (9 KOs). Igarashi, who was defending his title for the second time, fell to 17-2-1 (10 KOs).