Popular Japanese featherweight contender Takahiro Aoh out-classed Oscar Larios over 12 rounds to take the Mexican veteran's WBC featherwight title at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on Thursday.

Aoh (17-1-1, 8 KOs), dropped Larios, a distinguished former 122-pound titleholder, in the 12th round to clinch his unanimous decision (119-107, 118-109 and 116-111). The 24-year-old former Japanese amateur star fought Larios (63-7-1, 39 KOs) to a split-decision in Japan last October.

Aoh is currently THE RING's No. 9 featherwight contender. Larios is rated No. 8. Those rankings will likely flip-flop (if Larios isn't dropped from teh top 10) in next week's RING Ratings update.

Also in Japan on Thursday, respected WBC bantamweight titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa defended his belt for the eighth time by knocking out South Africa's Vusi Malinga in the first round of the bout that took place at World Memorial Hall in Kobe.

Hasegawa (26-2, 10 KOs), who dropped Malinga three times before their fight was stopped, is a talented southpaw who is rated No. 1 by THE RING at bantamweight. Malinga (18-3-1, 11 KOs), who earned his shot at Hasegawa by stopping aging Thai legend Veeraphol Sahaprom in four rounds last June, is rated No. 8.