Japans national hero Ryota Murata improved his record to 13-1 by scoring his tenth knockout victory over veteran Hassan N’Dam via corner stoppage as the eighth round commenced to win the WBA middleweight world championship title.

The bout took place at Kokugikan Hall in Tokyo, Japan, and was broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.  It was a rematch from a highly controversial fight in May where N’Dam was given the nod via split decision.

This time around Murata started the fight much faster – applying steady heavy pressure from the very start of the fight.  N’Dam was never really in the fight as his legs were buckling in nearly every single round from the heavy and accurate punching of Murata.

N’Dam showed that he is a savvy veteran as he was able to stay upright through the rounds, never hitting the deck, but the power and accuracy of Murata was just too much for him to handle as his corner told referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight as the eighth round commenced.

The win gave Japan’s Olympic gold medalist a world title in only his fourteenth professional fight.  Murata is now not only a decorated amateur – but also a decorated professional.  It will be interesting to see how his career unfolds and how he matches up against the best in the middleweight division.