YOKOHAMA, Japan – It was short and sweet from Yoshiki Takei who successfully defended his WBO bantamweight strap with a first round stoppage win over Yuttapong Tongdee.

Tongdee, a standout amateur, had vast more experience over Takei, a former kickboxing champion, but the contest that took place at the BUNTAI in Yokohama, Japan, proved to be a mismatch. Tongdee has wins over the likes of Robeisy Ramirez in the unpaid ranks, but just couldn’t live with the unorthodox Takei’s speed and power.

Takei, 11-0 (9 KOs), began his ring walk surrounded by his Ohashi Boxing Gym stablemates. A long line of some of the finest fighters in Japan. including Naoya Inoue, followed him to the ring. Takei relished being a star in his own right and appeared to take in every moment.

The fireworks that greeted the champion died down but it wouldn't be long before another explosion occurred. Takei came out in his wide, unorthodox stance and almost instantly lunged in with one of his trademark southpaw left hands and floored Tongdee. The traveling fighter from Thailand did not know what hit him and although he returned to his feet, he was still in a bad way,

Referee Chris Young had a good look at him before allowing the bout to continue by ushering Takei to resume the action. The champion again whipped in a left hand that sent Tongdee crashing into the ropes and followed it with another that took away his feet from beneath in. The challenger pleaded with the referee that he had slipped but he hadn’t. He didn’t even know what day it was.

The challenger was again allowed to continue, but it wasn’t long before Takei ended proceedings. He fired in a left hook and followed it with a right hook that turned Tongdee’s legs to jelly. Takei belted in another left and, with Tongdee wobbling around, Young had seen enough. The time of the stoppage was 2:07 of the first round.

Takei will now look to secure a clash with Junto Nakatani should he defeat Ryosuke Nishida in their IBF and WBC unification bout. Nakatani could move up to face Inoue, so Tenshin Nasukawa could be in line to fight for the vacant WBC title. A clash between the two former kickboxers would be huge in Japan.

Tongdee suffered the first defeat of his career and fell to 15-1 (9 KOs).