Thanongsak Simsri captured the IBF junior flyweight world title with a split decision victory over Cristian Araneta in Tokyo, Japan.

The title fight kicked off the ESPN+ broadcast of Brian Norman's WBO welterweight title clash with Jin Sasaki at the Ota-City General Gymnasium.

Filipino Araneta (25-3, 20 KOs) had been waiting for his shot at world title glory since January 2024, when he knocked out compatriot Arvin Magramo to cement his No. 1 contender status.

Araneta had to undergo surgery on his wrist soon after and missed over a year of action. His return, he hoped, would be a triumphant one.

However, despite scoring a 3rd-round knockdown, it wasn't to be for the man from Cebu City, as Thailand's Simsri picked up his first world title in his 40th fight after 12 rounds of back-and-forth action.

The cards read 115-112 Simsri, 114-113 Araneta, 116-111 Simsri.

Simsri (39-1, 34 KOs) cleanly picked up the first two rounds as a variety of power combinations landed with ease, the most noteworthy of which was a jab-right hand which landed clean on Araneta in the second.

Things changed in the third, though, as a looping left-hand counter from Araneta dropped Simsri hard. The breakthrough was much-needed but Araneta failed to capitalise and Simsri had fully recovered by the time the next round started.

Simsri had a strong middle section of the fight, landing three powerful rights in quick succession, but round 6 saw the tide turn briefly as Araneta landed a thudding left in the final minute.

It was in the second half of the fight where Simsri would pull away, however, landing with shots to the head and the body. The Thai man's jab would also become a key factor in the 10th and 11th once Araneta had begun to tire.

The final round saw Araneta plodding forward in hope of connecting with something big, instead walking onto a short right hand which stopped him in his tracks.

The wait for the scores to be read out was an anxious one, but it was Simsri who deservedly had his hand raised, with a despondent Araneta left to wonder what could've been had he got his opportunity sooner.