Armed with inspiration both young and old in Kazuto Ioka, Daigo Higa and the Tsutsumi brothers all within his circle, the 23-year-old Kira (5-0, 4 KOs) justified the hype and expectation around his growing star with a highlight-reel finish Wednesday at Yokohama Bontai in Yokohama, Japan.

He stopped Venezuela’s Carlos Canizales early in the seventh round after dropping him with a left hook and won the previously vacant WBA 108-pound title. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the action 38 seconds into the seventh.

The pair exchanged body shots in the early going, though Kira was noticeably faster to the punch and tagging the veteran through his high guard during a patient start. Canizales (28-4-1, 20 KOs) upped his urgency in round two but was countered for the privilege, frozen by an overhand right as the younger man clearly found his rhythm.

The Venezuelan climbed off the canvas in the first minute of the third after missing wildly with a right hook and being countered by a left at short range. Abandoning his defense to throw shots was a dangerous tactic, especially while missing more frequently against a more mobile target, though the 33-year-old relished the challenge.

Kira remained disciplined behind his jab in the fourth as Canizales walked forward, had to stay defensively alert in round five with the visitor throwing more body shots and that theme continued in the sixth as pressure increased.

The former WBC 108-pound champion's trademark tactics were well-intentioned and worked in periods, but ultimately saw him stopped by a thunderous left hook in the seventh.

Kira applied torque and placed his shot perfectly, just as he did four rounds earlier, but this time with more power to blast the 14-year veteran to the canvas in a heap. Canizales beat the count on unsteady legs, referee Raul Caiz Jr swiftly waving it off as he staggered backwards towards the ropes.

Although consternation remains about Rene Santiago's situation, given the unified titleholder was declared “champion in recess” while recovering from an elbow injury, Kira finds himself at world-level with several options.

WBC champion Shokichi Iwata (17-2, 14 KOs) was among those in attendance midweek. Santiago (16-4, 9 KOs), The Ring's No. 1 junior flyweight, will no doubt look to make up for lost time once fully healed.

You don't get paid for overtime but even Takeshi Ishii appeared surprised, after scoring his fastest stoppage for three years to win the WBA 'regular' strawweight championship. It was all over inside two minutes, Ishi (12-1, 9 KOs) flooring Wilfredo Mendez (20-4-2, 6 KOs) after landing a disguised right hook to the head at close-range.

Having set about his visitor with purpose and speed early, the 29-year-old showed his physical strength and relentlessness moments prior, walking through Mendez's punches before digging a left hand to the body.

That clearly hurt the Puerto Rican, who winced as he doubled over with a delayed reaction.

Having been outmuscled in the clinch and second to connect during brief but fiery exchanges, he remained on one knee and didn't beat referee Jean-Robert Laine's ten count. There was more where that came from. Ishii wheeled away to passionately celebrate on the ring apron, becoming the latest Ohashi Gym product to win world honors.

Much like the WBO confirmed last month, he will likely be elevated to full champion once Ring and unified 105-pound beltholder Oscar Collazo fights two-belt flyweight titleholder Ricardo Sandoval on October 10.