On Thursday in Tokyo, Japan, Thailand's Thanongsak Simsi (39-1, 34 KOs) almost won the vacant IBF junior flyweight belt (which Masamichi Yabuki gave up) by a split decision over IBF#1 ranked Filipino southpaw Cristian Araneta (25-3, 20 KOs), 107.75. The fight went twelve close rounds. Koji Tanaka scored 116-111 and Masakazu Murase scored 115-112, both for Simsri. Leszek Jankowaik (Poland) scored 113-114 for Araneta. Katsuhiko Nakamura was the referee. In the third round, Araneta hit Simsi with a sharp left, but he couldn't follow up and take the lead from then on. This was possibly because he got too scared and anxious to throw huge blows again. But Simsi was the one who stayed more active and delivered more blows in later rounds. It was a very close race.