Masayuki Ito: record, next fight and profile →
Super featherweight Masayuki Ito had a 168-143 edge in power landed and threw 100 more than previously unbeaten Christopher Diaz. He landed the harder shots and scored the fight's only knockdown.
Masayuki Ito dropped Christopher Diaz once en route to a 12 round unanimous decision victory late Saturday night at the Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida. With the win, Ito claimed the vacant WBO junior lightweight title. Ito came into the fight as the underdog against the popular Diaz, who hails from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. It felt like a home crowd for Diaz, as Kissimmee is a suburb of Orlando, where there is a large Puerto Rican population that resides in the area.
Masayuki Ito traveled halfway around the world, and he will return home a world champion. Ito, from Tokyo, defeated Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz via unanimous decision (116-111, 117-110, 118-109) Saturday evening at the Kissimmee Civic Center in a pitched affair to win the vacant WBO junior lightweight world championship. (photos by Top Rank).
Kissimmee Civic Center, Kissimmee - For the vacant World Boxing Organization super featherweight title, Masayuki Ito (24-1-1, 12 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Christopher Diaz (23-1, 15 KOs). The scores were 116-111, 117-110 and 118-109.
Christopher Diaz (last 5 fights), made his punches count, throwing 8 fewer than wgt. class avg. but landing 17 per round and 34.4%. Diaz also landed 39.5% of his power punches. He also features an excellent body attack, as 36.7% of his landed punches are body shots - CompuBox avg.: 24.2%. Masayuki Ito (last 3 fights) landed 40.1% of his power shots and he too features an excellent body attack, as 33.5% of his landed punches are body shots.
Diaz, Ito Weights Photos Gallery - Diaz-Ito and Reyes-Bracero will stream live and exclusively in the United States at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with undercard action set for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Diaz, Ito Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz (23-0, 15 KOs) will have the crowd on his side Saturday evening at the Kissimmee Civic Center when he takes on Japan's Masayuki Ito (23-1-1) for the vacant WBO junior lightweight title. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Christopher Diaz Training Photos Gallery - Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz (23-0, 15 KOs) is proud of his Puerto Rican heritage and is acutely aware of his homeland's rich fighting history. Diaz, who fights Masayuki Ito (23-1-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday at the Kissimmee Civic Center for the vacant WBO junior lightweight world title, is hoping to become the fifth current male world champion from the "Island of Enchantment." (Photos by Mikey Williams).
Christopher Diaz Training For Ito Photos Gallery - Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz wants to add his name to the storied list of Puerto Rican world champions. He will get that chance July 28 at the Kissimmee Civic Center, when he squares off against Masayuki Ito for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight title. (Photos by Pete Amador).
Christopher Diaz photos gallery - Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz wants to add his name to the storied list of Puerto Rican world champions. He will get that chance July 28 at the Kissimmee Civic Center, when he squares off against Masayuki Ito for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight title.