By Jake Donovan

Jorge Linares became the youngest fighter from Venezuela - and just the second-ever from the nation - to win belts in three weight classes, following his 4th round knockout of Javier Prieto in their vacant lightweight title fight Tuesday evening in Tokyo, Japan.

The bout served in supporting capacity to a loaded fight card in Tokyo, topped by a 12-round super flyweight title fight between long-reigning titlist Omar Narvaez and rising unbeaten star Naoya Inoue, who moves up from 108 lb.

At age 29, Linares joins Leo Gamez as the only two fighters from Venezuela to win belts in three or more weight classes. Gamez was a four-division champion during his incredible career, not capturing his third belt - at flyweight - until age 36.

There would be no such waiting for Linares, who earns a lightweight belt on his second attempt. This go-round was far more brief and one-sided than his Oct. '11 Fight of the Year candidate when he was bloodied and stopped in the 11th round of a brutal war with Antonio DeMarco. 

Prieto never posed any such threat on this particular evening. It was a terrific performance from the athletically gifted Linares, who ended the fight with a perfectly placed overhand right to Prieto's eardrum, throwing off his equilibrium to put the Mexican banger down and out.

The official time was 1:50 of round four. 

The loss caps a strange year for Prieto, who failed to win a single fight but with a pair of 12-round draws was able to remain in the title hunt. The 27-year old falls to 24-8-2 (18KOs), with the rest of his year spent twice fighting Ivan Cano to a draw in separate 12-round affairs, both of which were sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

As for Linares, a second shot at history proves worth the wait as he improves to 38-3 (25KOs). The title win adds to his past collection, having previously reigned at featherweight and super featherweight. 

The belt was made available after Omar Figueroa vacated earlier this year, citing his inability to any longer make weight.

UNDERCARD

Ryota Murata was extended the 10-round distance for the second straight time, though easily remaining unbeaten after pitching a shutout over American journeyman Jessie Nicklow. 

Scores were 100-90 (twice) and 100-91) in the Fuji-TV televised opener. 

Murata (6-0, 4KOs) opened up strong and never relinquished his lead, though he suffered his bumps and bruises along the way. Cuts around his eye never proved problematic, though troublesome enough to ease off the gas at times and never allow the boxing match to devolve into a fight except when on his terms.

Nicklow (24-5-3, 8KOs) did his best to bully the local favorite, but had to settle for a moral victory in simply lasting the distance. His prior losses all came inside the distance, suffering knockout defeats to then-unbeaten prospect Fernando Guerrero, rebounding ex-middleweight champ Jermain Taylor (prior to his becoming a two-time champ) and a 10th round stoppage to Scott Sigmon earlier this year.

Ryo Matsumoto (13-0, 11KOs) scored a 12th round stoppage over Rusalee Samor (25-6-2, 11KOs) to capture the vacant OPBF super flyweight championship.

Takuma Inoue (4-0, 1KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Nestor Narvaez (20-3-2, 9KOs). The scores were 80-72, 80-73 and 80-72. Both fighters are the younger siblings of the main event players.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox