Japanese champion Toshiaki Nishioka celebrates his win over Balweg Bangoyan of the Philippines at the WBC super bantamweight title bout at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on April 30, 2010. (AFP)

TOKYO, April 30, 2010 (AFP) - Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka pulled off a technical knockout (TKO) victory over Balweg Bangoyan of the Philippines to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight title on Friday.

Mexican referee Gelasio Perez had no choice but to pull the plug on Bangoyan's ambitious bid after Nishioka rained punches on the Filipino, who moments earlier had hit the floor as if he had been shot by a high-caliber pistol.

A thunderous left by Nishioka on Bangoyan's exposed jaw sent him down and while Bangoyan gallantly got up, it was very clear the end was near as an avalanche of heavy blows overwhelmed Bangoyan, who was fighting for the first time on hostile ground.

Bangoyan had his moments before being chopped down like a log at 1:14 of the fifth frame as he landed a huge right hand to Nishioka's chin that momentarily turned his foes' legs into jelly in the second round.

But Bangoyan had no follow-up to that big connection as Nishioka wisely moved around and timed his punches, leaving Bangoyan missing wildly with his haymakers.

It was the fourth defense of the title for the 33-year-old Nishioka, who improved his record to 36 wins, including 23 KOs, against four defeats and three draws.

Nishioka became the interim champion in September 2008 and became the real champion in January last year when title-holder Israel Vazquez of Mexico gave it up for health reasons.

For the 23-year old Bangoyan, ranked 10th in the WBC, it was his first defeat after winning his previous 15 bouts, including six KOs. (With a report from Nick Giongco)