WBC International champion Cristofer Rosales shocks Daigo Higa to win the WBC World Flyweight crown in Japan. Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales (27-3, 18 KOs) won the WBC World flyweight crown stopping local hero Daigo Higa (15-1, 15 KOs) in round nine, when the Japanese’s corner finally decided that enough was enough at 1:14 of the mentioned session. The taller Nicaraguan took the lead with solid left uppercuts following left-right combos and hurt the ex-champ who had forfeited his belt on the scale the day before. Higa exclusively fought back with body shots, but Rosales looked more effective in the close quarters. After the fourth, the open scoring system indicated 39-37 twice for Rosales, 39-37 for Higa. The fifth and sixth saw Cristofer, 23, connect with left and right uppercuts to the face and midsection to weaken the still game but fading ex-champ. Higa, however, furiously came back with two-fisted attacks in rounds seven and eight, while Rosales fought back hard without retreating in the center of the ring. After the eighth, the interim scoring was : 77-75, 79-73 for Rosales, 76-76. In the ninth and fatal session, Rosales opened up again with a succession of heavy left body blows, while Higa's punches only connected with the air. Higa’s corner finally made up its mind and asked the third man to halt the proceedings. The Japanese side asked for the bout to be stopped one minute and 14 seconds into the ninth round. The defeat was an extra shock for Higa as the previous day he became the first Japanese champion to be stripped of a title because of a weight issue. The 22-year-old, who had 15 straight knock- out victories, weighed in at 51.7 kilogrammes (114 pounds) on the eve of the bout, exceeding the flyweight limit by 900 grammes (32 ounces). However, both sides agreed to go ahead with Sunday's bout on condition that Rosales would take the belt with a win, with the title to be vacated in the case of a draw or a victory scored by Higa . Higa burst onto the boxing scene in 2014 when he knocked out Thailand's Saengkeng Saknarong in less than a minute. He clinched the vacant WBC flyweight world championship in May. In February he defeated Mexico's Moises Fuentes in his second title defence, his 15th consecutive victory by knockout. Arena Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan Sunday April 15th 2018 by Teiken Promotions of Mr. Akihiko Honda Cristofer Rosales (Nicaragua) WBC International Flyweight champion WBC #2 27-3-0, 18 NEW WBC WORLD champion Full name: Cristofer Jordan ROSALES GONZALEZ Rosales had won the vacant WBC International title on October 21st 2017 in Florence (Italy) when defeating in 7 rounds local hero (previously unbeaten and WBC rated contender) Muhammad OBBADI. The only defeats suffered by Rosales have been: At the beginning of his pro career. In Great Britain (Cardiff) against Andrew Selby, a former WBC International champion himself. Rosales had Selby on the canvas in the first round to eventually lose on points. The other defeat was in 2015 against current WBA SuperFlyweight champion Khalid Yafai on points. The following title bouts have been already staged in the initial 2018 season Promoter Title Venue Date Fighters Country SauerlandEvent LHweight Riga Jan 27 Yohann Kongolo WUD10 Andrej Pokumeiko Latvia Silver Mario Loreni Cruiserwght Florence Feb 2 Fabio Turchi WTKO1 Darìo German Balmaceda Italy Silver Aram Davtyan Lightweight Adler Feb 3 Vage Sarukhanyan Lost KO 7 Hurricane Futa Russia (discrict of Soči) Igor Korolev, Director General of ABC SWweight St. Petersburg Feb 10 Nikolozi Tasidis LostUD10 Evgeny Terentiev Russia Silver Athletic Boxing Club Middlewght Limoges Feb10 Karim Achour WUD12 Patrice Sou Toke France Jean-Marie Boucheron vacant Rodney Berman Minimum Emperors March 3 Dee Jay Kriel WUD12 Xolisa Magusha RSA Palace Rodney Berman Welter Emperors March 3 Thulani Mbenge WUD12 Diego Cruz RSA Palace Ahmet Öner SuperMiddle Köln March 3 Avni Yildirim WUD12 Derek Edwards Germany Ahmet Öner Light Silver Köln March 3 Robert Tlatlik WKO7 Marek Jedrzejewski Germany vacant Matchroom, Eddie Hearn SuperBantam Sheffield March 3 Gamal Yafai Lost UD12 Gavin McDonnell GB Brian Amatruda LightHeavy Melbourne March 16 Isaac Chilemba WUD12 Blake Caparello Australia Ken Casey of Murphys Boxing SuperLight Boston March 17 Danny O’Connor WUD10 Steve Claggett USA Silver Armin Tan Promotions LightFly Jakarta March 31 Tibo Monabesa WUD12 Lester Abutan Indonesia Silver Rodney Berman Feather Emperors April 8 Lerato Dlamini W SD 12 Sydney Maluleka RSA Vacant Palace April 20th 2018 WBC International 130 Lbs Silver Championship City of Mercedes (100 km off Buenos Aires) Horacio Alfredo Cabral (champ) vs Pablo “Pimenta” Manuel OJEDA (Argentina) Televised by TyCSports By Mario Margossian May 12th2018 WBC International 168 Lbs Championship TV Studios in Hürth (Köln province), Germany AvniYildirim (champ) vs Ryan Ford (Canada) by Ahmet Öner May 26th 2018 Current WBC International 160 Lbs champion Karim Achour will defend his belt against David Lemieux in Québéc City , CANADA. Camille Estephan ( Eye of the tiger Promotions) The Committee is also keen to consider the following vacant title bout: SuperFeather weight June 26th Toronto CANADA Ramiro Blanco (Junior Hernandez) Nicaragua aged 22 (17-2-3, 10) Alex Dilmaghani UK aged 26 based in México 17-1-0, 6 by Lee Baxter President Lee Baxter Promotions More details to come soon WBC International 118 lbs champion Duke Micah will fight Yoan Boyaeux (France) next April 21st at the Kings Theatre , Brooklyn NY, USA, in a non-title bout. Fabio Turchi is on the line to defend his WBC International Cruiserweight Silver title next June 2nd in Atlantic City . The show will be staged by Real Deal of Evander Holyfield . Fabio’s challenger could be Nicholas Ryan Kisner (USA) 20-4-1. WBC International SuperWelter weight champion Ismail ILIEV has relinquished his title on voluntary basis. James Metclaf (17-0, 9) vs Liam Williams (16-2-1, 11) for the vacant belt is a possibility. June 9th in Manchester by Francis Warren. More to come. Mark Heffron could fight for the vacant WBC International 160 Lbs Silver title. (Francis Warren) .