The WBC reported that, following a technical review, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) has officially amended the result of the WBC 108-pound title bout held on March 15th. Following a formal petition issued by the WBC on March 19th, the JBC initiated a comprehensive investigation as there was clear video evidence compelling a chnage in result of Shokichi Iwata (pictured) vs.  Thammanoon Niyomtrong a/k/a Knockout CP Freshmart. The final investigation report—signed by JBC Executive Secretary Tsuyoshi Yasukochi and endorsed by a panel of seven officials and specialists changed the result from a technical decision win for Iwata to a technical knockout. 

 

After a meticulous frame-by-frame review, it was determined that the cut above Knockout CP Freshmart’s left eye was caused by a legal right hook landed by Iwata at approximately the 0:55 mark of the fourth round. The investigation concluded that no headbutt contributed to the injury; rather, the wound was the direct result of a legal and effective punch. Because the fight stoppage in the eighth round was a direct consequence of the injury caused by a legal blow, the JBC has ruled it appropriate to amend the official result from a Technical Decision (TD) to a Technical Knockout (TKO) in favor of Shokichi Iwata. This outcome reaffirms the critical importance of technology in modern officiating. The WBC celebrates the Japan Boxing Commission’s commitment to the active implementation of Instant Replay—a tool the WBC has championed globally to ensure fairness and transparency in the ring.

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE

 

March 15, 2026: Japan's Shokichi Iwata secured the WBC junior flyweight title by dethroning two-division champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong a/k/a Knockout CP Freshmart via eighth-round technical decision. Iwata (16-2) is now a two-time champ at 108 pounds, having briefly held the WBO belt in 2024 and 2025. From the opening bell, Iwata set a relentless pace. Utilizing an aggressive style built around constant pressure and straight armed combinations, he  successfully controlled the distance against the shorter Thai. Freshmart (29-2), one of the division’s most respected figures, attempted to use his lateral movement to neutralize the onslaught but the fight’s intensity began to take its toll. Round after round, Iwata’s precision inflicted increasing and worsening accumulated damage on Freshmart’s face, specifically targeting the area around the left eye. The turning point came when Freshmart suffered a deep laceration above that eye. Blood flow became a decisive factor; although the Thai fighter battled on valiantly, the clarity of his vision  was severely compromised as the bout progressed. At the end of the eighth round, the ringside physician examined the injury and determined it was unsafe for Freshmart to continue. Per WBC regulations, since more than four rounds had been completed, the result went to the scorecards. The judges were in total agreement, awarding Iwata a unanimous technical decision, that reflected his dominance throughout the contest.