By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Busy-punching Nanae Suzuki (11-4-1, 1 KO), 101, captured the WBO female 102-pound belt as she kept stalking defending champ Mika Iwakawa (10-6-1, 3 KOs), 101.5, outhustled her and eked out a split decision (96-94 twice, 94-96) over ten hairline rounds on Friday in Tokyo, Japan. Suzuki avenged her close defeat by a split nod to Iwakawa in their first encounter in September 2020. The 38-year-old champ, making her second defense, attempted to counter the onrushing challenger, 29, but Suzuki’s aggressiveness paid off to wrest the belt.

Promoter: Dangan Aoki Promotions.

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