Yamamoto was confident of a KO victory and he never stopped throwing the big punches to put pressure on Yamamoto whenever he could. But at the end of five entertaining rounds the accolades were all with Sugar Kaew for a thrilling exhibition that oozed with class.

Thailand's undisputed featherweight title holder came to Japan to show to the world that he's the best. And none of the fans that packed the arena in downtown Tokyo would dispute that Kaew Fairtex is indeed one of the best pound-for-pound muaythai fighters in the world today.

The Ice Man promised a blizzard to the visitor but, instead, he suffered a meltdown fuelled by some lightning elbow strikes from the masterful Kaew.

Yamamoto packs an arsenal of solid punches and hard sweep kicks. He's also a tough grappler. However, much to his surprise he found that Kaew is an even better puncher and kicker, and his opponent also had had perfected the extra weapon of flash elbow strikes.

Tried as he did so desperately, Yamamoto just couldn't land his highly rated right hand punches onto the target area. Every time he lashed out at Kaew, the Thai master covered superbly and then counter attacked with his own dazzling flurries of left punches and elbow strikes.

After four rounds of punishment the Japanese warrior tried to grapple Kaew for an advantage, but to no avail. The Thai champ had all the answers.

Sugar Kaew came to Japan to take on this nation's best. Now he's challenging the world. And for certain he'll be hard to beat.

All three judges awarded the fight to Kaew 50-46, 49-48 and 50-48.