By Jake Donovan

Takashi Uchiyama continued his New Year's Eve tradition of defending his super featherweight crown, stopping Nicaragua's Oliver Flores in three rounds Thursday evening in Tokyo, Japan. The win sets up a not-so-traditional next step, as the unbeaten boxer from Japan is being groomed for a showdown with former featherweight champion Nicholas Walters somewhere in the United States during the first four months of 2016.

A body shot was enough to force the visiting challenger to wilt at 1:47 of the third round of their headlining act, which aired live on TV Tokyo in Japan.

Talks of a Uchiyama-Walters clash surfaced well before either fighter entered the ring for separate bouts in December. Hall-of-Fame promoter Bob Arum claimed a deal to already be in place for the first part of 2016, assuming both fighters survive their scheduled fights and come out unscathed.

Walters had to settle for a 10-round draw versus Jason Sosa in a fight most believed the unbeaten boxer from Jamaica deserved with room to spare. The three judges felt otherwise, although his team and those who back his career - including American cable giant HBO - treat the fight as if he won and are moving forward accordingly. 

Uchiyama never came close to being placed in a similar predicament. In fact, there have been few moments during any point of a title reign approaching six years this January where the threat of losing ever came to surface. It wasn't going to happen on this particular evening, as Flores was believed - and proved - to be well in over his head for his first title fight and also his first career fight outside of The Americas. 

The ending was sudden but the build-up was subtle yet methodical. While a two-fisted knockout artist, Uchiyama is more of a workhorse than a one-hitter quitter. Flores was forced to endure this lesson, absorbing several big punches over the course of two moderately-placed rounds to begin the fight. 

Just as the action threatened to heat up did it come to a crashing halt. Uchiyama connected with a vicious left hook to the body that created the sound and visual effect of a gun shot as Flores hit the canvas in a heap. The visiting Nicaraguan never threatened to recover, prompting referee Luis Pabon to signal an end to the contest and thus his second knockout loss in falling to 27-2-2 (17KOs). 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Uchiyama continues his run as the de facto leader of a suddenly loaded super featherweight division. The win marks his 11th successful title defense as he advances to 24-0-1 (20KOs), having fought just five rounds on the year as he entered on the heels of a 2nd round knockout of Jomthong Chuwatana in May. 

Far tougher tasks lie ahead, beginning with the reported showdown with Walters, which Uchiyama welcomes with open arms. Also waiting in queue - though not by contract but in relation to top talent at 130 lbs. - is newly crowned titlist Francisco Vargas, who overcame a knockdown and a grotesquely swollen shut eye to drop and stop former Uchiyama victim Takashi Miura in the 9th round of their Fight of the Year entrant this past November in Las Vegas. 

Despite the title loss, Miura remains a threat to just about any super featherweight on the planet, including Vargas against whom he was often one punch away from ending the fight before getting caught himself. Also waiting in the clubhouse are the winners - of a pair of scheduled title fights, with Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido set to meet for a third time on February 20, while Jose Pedraza defends his belt versus mandatory challenger Stephen Smith on March 26 in New York City.

No matter how you mix and match them, a lot of great fights are there to be made in the super featherweight division. However comfortable the 36-year old Uchiyama may have felt as the division's top dog, tough challenges - beginning with Walters once made official - lie ahead in 2016.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox