TOKYO: Japanese champion Daisuke Naito has defended his WBC flyweight title with a unanimous decision over China's Xiong Zhaozhong.

Xiong sent Naito to the canvas with a right in the sixth round of Tuesday's fight, but the Japanese champion recovered despite being cut above both eyes.

Naito improved to 35-2-3 with 22 knockouts while Xiong fell to 12-2-1 (eight KOs).

At 34 years, 8 months, Naito becomes the oldest Japanese boxer to defend a world title.

The match was originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai but was moved to Tokyo three days ago due to promoter-related problems.