Korean-Japanese boxing champion Hong Chang-soo, better known by his Japanese name Masamori Tokuyama, says he will retire next spring.

Japan's Kyodo News Agency on Friday said the 31-year-old holder of the World Boxing Council's super flyweight title will retire after defending his belt against Jose Navarro of the United States in Osaka.

The third-generation Korean-Japanese recaptured the title in July in a rematch with Katsushige Kawashima of Japan, who had knocked out Hong to win the belt last year.

Hong is a pro-North Korea boxer who was born in Tokyo, and has used his publicity to urge reunification of the two Koreas.

First winning the title in August 2000 from South Korea's Cho In-joo, Hong became only the third boxer in Japan to defend his title eight times.

He has been voted Japan's top boxer for three straight years and won in 2001 North Korea's People's Athlete award

Hong's pro record is 31 wins, three losses and a draw with eight knockouts.