Ginjiro Shigeoka is back on course to challenge for the title he should have earned earlier this year.

The unbeaten southpaw won the interim IBF strawweight title following a ninth-round knockout of former full IBF champ Rene Mark Cuarto. Shigeoka was down in the opening round but stormed back to score three knockdowns and force a stoppage at 2:55 of round nine Sunday at Yoyogi #2 Gymnasium in Tokyo.

The bout aired live on Abema TV as part of Kameda Promotions' 3150Fight series.

Shigeoka (9-0, 7KOs) is the mandatory challenger to full titleholder Daniel Valladares.

Cuarto did not show any fear of fighting on the road for the second time in his past three starts. The 26-year-old from Ponot, Philippines twice sent Shigeoka to the canvas in the opening round, though only credited with one official knockdown. It came late in the frame, when a straight right hand knocked Shigeoka off his feet and onto the deck.

Shigeoka tried to make up the difference in round two. His overzealous attack resulted in a clash of heads that put Cuarto on the ground. The referee correctly waved off the sequence and instead issued a hard warning for the infraction to the unbeaten local favorite. Action resumed though Cuarto was forced to contend with a cut under his left eye. Shigeoka settled down and landed straight left hands to the body.

The bout gradually drifted in Shigeoka’s favor as the rounds progressed. Cuarto attempted to put his height and reach advantage to use versus his 5’0” foe but was often forced to use lateral movement to create his desired distance.

Both boxers enjoyed success with straight punches upstairs. Shigeoka bounced on his toes and fiicked his jab to set up the straight left hand down the middle. He also mixed in body shots, while Cuarto strictly targeted the head, to the detriment of his corner who urged to target Shigeoka’s midsection to slow down his attack.

Shigeoka sent Cuarto to the canvas late in round six and was credited with a knockdown for roughly 30 seconds. Time was called after Cuarto properly responded to the mandatory eight count, after which the referee received instruction from the commission at ringside—upon instant replay review—to instead rule a slip. It was a minor saving grace for Cuarto as Shigeoka otherwise won the round with room to spare.

There was no questioning the knockdown call in round seven. Shigeoka landed consecutive straight lefts upstairs before connecting with a looping body shot that forced Cuarto to his knees. Cuarto beat the count but was suddenly forced to play catchup after a brilliant start.

Cuarto tried to establish his jab in rounds eight and nine, enjoying occasional success. Shigeoka continued to work the body and also mixed in rapid fire combinations upstairs. Time was called midway through round nine when another accidental clash of heads temporarily left Cuarto with compromised vision.

His night would only get worse and ultimately brought to a halt altogether.

Shigeoka scored two more knockdowns in the final 60 seconds of the round and fight. A left to the body sent Cuarto to the deck, clearly feeling the shot as per the expression on his face. The Filipino bravely beat the count but was floored again with less than 15 seconds to go in the round. He barely made it to his feet but was rendered unable to continue by referee Katsuhiko Nakamurato, who waved off the contest. 

Cuarto (21-4-2, 12KOs) has now lost for the second time in his past three starts. He dropped a twelve-round, split decision to Valladares on the road last July 1 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico. The win ended his IBF title reign which began with a technical decision win over Pedro Taduran in February 2021.

Shigeoka was denied the full IBF title when his bout versus Valladares ended inside of three round due to an accidental clash of heads. Valladares was unable to continue due to injury, which affected him long enough to request an exception once it came time to satisfy his mandatory title defense in an ordered rematch with Cuarto.

Valladares is now required to next face Shigeoka in an immediate rematch and is out of exceptions to avoid the fight.

The show also includes Ginjiro's older brother, Yudai Shigeoka (6-0, 4KOs) in an interim WBC strawweight title fight versus former WBO titleholder Wilfredo 'Bimbito' Mendez (18-2, 6KOs) , a late replacement for ailing full WBC titleholder Panya Pradabsri (39-1, 23KOs).

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox