By Jake Donovan

Former lineal flyweight champion Toshiyuki Igarashi picked up his third straight win, though was hardly spectacular in outpointing Mexico's Efrain Perez in their main event Saturday evening in Tokyo, Japan.

Scores were 98-94 (twice) and 96-95, all in favor of Igarashi (20-2-1, 11KOs) in their cut-shortened bout, with the action ending seconds into 10th and final round.

Igarashi's rise to fame is attributed to landing in the right place at the right time. The southpaw was the mandatory challlenger at the time when career journeyman Sonny Boy Jaro scored a massive upset knockout win over faded all-time great Pongsaklek Wonjongkam to win the World flyweight crown. Jaro lost the belt to Igarash in his very first defense in July '12.

The reign was also shortlived for Igarashi, who managed just one successful defense, outpointing Nestor Narvaez in Nov. '12, before conceding the crown to countryman Akira Yaegashi in their fun April '13 clash.

Three straight wins have followed as Igarashi now spends his time campaigning in the super flyweight division. His past two wins have both ended early due to accidental fouls.

Perez (17-6, 12KOs) has now lost two straight, both taking place in Asia after having previously never fought outside of his native Mexico.

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