TEPIC, Mexico (Kyodo) WBA super welterweight interim champion Nobuhiro Ishida lost a unanimous decision to Mexico's Rigoberto Alvarez for the vacant regular title on Saturday.
The 35-year-old Ishida slipped to a record of 22-6, including seven knockouts, with two draws. Alvarez, 32, improved to 26-2 (19 KOs).
Ishida peppered Alvarez with a sharp left in the early going but the Mexican fighter closed the gap, unleashing a series of right and left hooks as the bout progressed. Ishida was sent to the canvas by Alvarez's left in the seventh and threw fewer punches in the end.
"I was trying to move forward and keep the pressure on. I struggled to make weight and I think this showed in my rhythm in the later rounds. I wasn't sure who was going to win until the end. I got a good shot with my left at his temple in the seventh," said Alvarez.