The Japan Boxing Commission handed out its 2014 awards at its annual ceremony in Tokyo on Friday and the winner of the big prize was 21-year-old prodigy Naoya Inoue.

Inoue (8-0, 7 KOs) won Japanese fighter of the year honors after a tremendous year in which he won a junior flyweight world title in his sixth fight in June by knocking out respected titlist Adrian Hernandez in the sixth round, defended it in September with an 11th-round knockout of Samartlek Kokietgym, and then moved up two weight classes to win a junior bantamweight title by destroying long-reigning titleholder Omar Narvaez in the second round on Dec. 30.

In receiving the award, Inoue was also presented with his newest world title belt.

“I’m very excited to have my new belt around my waist now,” Inoue said in translated remarks. “I wish to defend this belt as long as possible to break the national record of Mr. Yoko Gushiken’s 13 straight defenses. I’d like to fight [flyweight champion] Roman Gonzalez in the near future should there be an opportunity -- hopefully, in the end of this year.”

Inoue’s knockout of Narvaez also won Japanese fight of the year honors and knockout of year honors.