Toshiki Shimomachi climbed off the floor in the eighth round to outscore the gritty and determined Ryuyu Tsugawa over 10 rounds.

Shimomachi won a fun fight that seemed closer than the scorecards – 96-93, 96-93 and 97-92 – indicated, and Shimomachi was nailed by a left hook-right hand in the eighth that threatened to change the trajectory of the outcome. Tsugawa finished the fight stronger, too, but ultimately his late work counted for little on the cards.

The first round was mostly exploratory, and Tsugawa landed arguably the punch of the session with a straight right down the middle.

The action heated up in the second and both enjoyed their moments. The tall and rangy southpaw Shimomachi was comfortable surrendering his height advantage to engage Tsugawa on the inside.

Shimomachi, 19-1-3 (12 KOs), a 27 year old from Osaka, was also targeting the body, burying lead right hooks and long lefts.

He used the ring, moving side to side, and Tsugawa – trying to slow him with right hands – was not having much success while shipping occasional counters.

Shimomachi landed a straight left to open the fifth in a brisk, entertaining, and close affair, and Shimomachi was starting to put distance between them on the scorecards through the middle rounds.

Tsugawa, 13-2 (9 KOs), landed a good left to the body in the sixth, and although his cheeks were swelling he defiantly marched on.

He settled in the seventh, scoring with more rights to perhaps seize the round – although Shimomachi landed a left that was perhaps the best punch of the session.

Tsugawa kept grinding away, especially with the right hand, and it cracked Shimomachi again – followed in behind a left hand – dropping Shimomachi on to the seat of his trunks in the eighth.

Shimomachi made it back to his feet but he was in trouble. He backed up, tried to hold, and desperately attempted to fight back, cutting a far more disorganised figure than he had done previously.

The energy started to circulate through Shimomachi’s legs again in the ninth, however, and again they boxed on even terms and through the 10th as Tsugawa forged forward, thumping in the heavier shots and aggressively letting his hands go.

Tsugawa took a left hand, having left himself open, near the bell, but Tsugawa was putting the pressure on when the end came.