Ethnic Korean boxer Hong Chang-soo has recaptured the WBC super flyweight title.

In a rematch with Katsushige Kawashima in Osaka, Japan, Hong won a unanimous decision Monday in improving his record to 31-3 with eight knockouts and a draw.

Kawashima had taken the title away from Hong in June last year with a first-round technical knockout.

Hong is a pro-North Korea resident of Japan whose Japanese name is Masamori Tokuyama.

American judge James Jenkins scored the match 118-109 for Hong, while Japanese judges Kazuo Abe and Hisatoshi Miyazaki scored it 117-110 and 115-112, respectively.

Fightnews.com said Hong fought much better than expected, having pondered retirement before quitting drinking and resuming serious training this past spring.

Next up for Hong is the WBC top contender Jose Navarro.