Katsunari Takayama

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Katsunari Takayama
高山 勝成
Born (1983-05-12) May 12, 1983 (age 40)
Osaka, Osaka, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other namesLightning Kid
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Reach62+1⁄2 in (159 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights44
Wins34
Wins by KO12
Losses9
No contests1

Katsunari Takayama (高山 勝成, Takayama Katsunari, born May 12, 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a five-time mini-flyweight world champion, having held the WBC title in 2005, the IBF title twice between 2013 and 2015, and the WBO title twice between 2014 and 2017. He retired as a professional in 2017, as WBO world champion, to focus on participation in the 2020 Olympics, but returned in 2020 after failing to qualify.

Early life[edit]

Takayama weighed about 60 kg at the age of twelve. He started playing rugby and athletics, but did not last long. It was in summer in the second grade of junior high school that his friend brought him to a boxing gym. When he got started on the punching bag, despite he said he is going to be a world champion, he could not do more than three push-ups in a row. Even after his own workout, he had been watching senior boxers' sparring sessions and trainees' training.[1]

Professional boxing career[edit]

Takayama made his professional debut in October 2000 and won the All-Japan Rookie King Tournament in December 2001.[1]

Japan[edit]

WBC title[edit]

On April 4, 2005 Takayama defeated Isaac Bustos for the WBC world title, by a unanimous decision. This victory gave Takayama the distinction of being the 50th Japanese fighter to win a world title. However, he lost a next bout against Eagle Kyowa by a unanimous decision, on August 6, 2005.

Interim WBA title[edit]

On November 7, 2006 he defeated Carlos Melo for the WBA interim title when he was originally supposed to face Yutaka Niida for the WBA title in September. However, due to a costal cartilage fracture[2] Niida sustained from sparring, the fight would be delayed to April 7, 2007 ending in a split decision loss. After the fight, his then manager rejected the decision and uttered that it was a match fixing and that he would make civil litigation. However, he visited the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) two days later and apologized for his rant saying that he had just wanted to pat his boxer on the back.[3] Furthermore, most of the purse for that fight had not been paid. Although Takayama and Nakade announced that they would transfer to any other gym, the matters on the match fee and transfer fee were not resolved over months.[4]

Takayama got another world title shot on July 14, 2009. This time, it was for the WBA minimumweight title which is held by Roman Gonzalez. Unsuccessfully, Takayama lost on all judges. He retired as a JBC-licensed boxer to fight for the WBO and IBF's titles in late 2009.[5] At that time the JBC had approved no fight for the WBO and IBF's titles, but conditionally allowed them from February 28, 2011.[6] That is because the West Japan Boxing Association to which Takayama and Ken'ichi Yamaguchi belonged strongly urged reform of the system after they issued retirement notices.[5][7]

Away from Japan[edit]

Takayama then trained at his fellow boxer Ken'ichi Yamaguchi's Osaka Tenjin Boxing Gym in Japan[5] and ALA Boxing Gym in the Philippines,[8] and was promoted by ALA Promotions since April 2010.[9]

He won an IBF minimumweight title eliminator via a sixth round technical knockout at the Carnival City in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa in September 2010.[10] He challenged Nkosinathi Joyi for that title at the Carnival City on January 29, 2011 after being postponed twice,[11] but the fight ended in a no-contest due to a cut on Takayama's head after an accidental head-butt in the third round.[12] He had a broken right hand since just before the fight.[5]

Takayama rematched Joyi at the Orient Theatre in East London, Eastern Cape after postponed four times[5] on March 30, 2012. It was the SABC-televised second boxing event after one year interruption.[13] According to Japanese sources, Takayama reportedly dominated the whole fight except that he went down resulting from a slip in the fifth round,[14] and stated with increased confidence through the twelve rounds that "I fought as was planned and did my best"[15][16] after a unanimous decision loss with scores of 111–116 twice and 110–117.[17] A boxing writer for South Africa's SuperSport wrote that "Many ringsiders were of the opinion that the decision could have gone in favour of the challenger" on Fightnews.com[18] which was presented the WBA’s Website of the Year in 2010.[19] In addition, there were several articles showing that Joyi had struggled against Takayama.[18] However the IBF's Lindsey Tucker has denied their views on BoxingScene.com.[20]

He fought against Filipino Mateo Handig for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific mini flyweight title and the mandatory challenger status to the IBF mini flyweight title in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines on October 13, 2012. But he lost the fight via a split decision after being deducted a point in the fourth round for pushing. Two Filipino judges scored the fight 114–113 for Handig, while the other Thai judge scored it 115–112 for Takayama.[21][22] The IBF ordered a rematch due to the inadequacy of the mandatory drug testing before and after the fight.[23] After Handig's injury, Takayama earned the right to challenge for the world title.[24]

IBF title[edit]

Takayama defeated Mario Rodríguez via a unanimous decision with the scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 115–113 to be crowned the IBF mini flyweight world champion at the Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 30, 2013.[25] He was the first foreign boxer for ALA Promotions, and became the third ever world champion for them.[26] "I'm gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," Takayama had told at the pre-fight conference.[Video 1] He tried to imitate the Ali shuffle during the fight.[Video 2]

Return to Japan[edit]

The JBC joined the WBO and the IBF on April 1, 2013.[27] After more than four years' absence from the ring in Japan, Takayama's boxer's license was issued again by the JBC on July 12, 2013. He registered with Nakazato Boxing Gym[28] to defend his title against Vergilio Silvano via a unanimous decision at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 3, 2013.[29]

While Takayama has gone through five gyms,[1][4] his Japanese trainer for his entire career is Hiroaki Nakade[1][30] who has so far served as the second/trainer in the world title bouts of all the four major sanctioning bodies i.e. the WBA, WBC, IBF (for Takayama fights) and WBO (for Orlando Salido vs. Yamaguchi).[31]

Professional boxing record[edit]

44 fights 34 wins 9 losses
By knockout 12 2
By decision 22 7
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
43 Win 33–9 (1) Joel Lino UD 8 Jun 11, 2023 KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan
42 Loss 32–9 (1) Elwin Soto TKO 9 (12), 2:44 May 8, 2021 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US For WBO junior-flyweight title
41 Win 32–8 (1) Reiya Konishi UD 6 Dec 27, 2020 Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan
40 Win 31–8 (1) Riku Kano TD 6 (12), 0:58 Aug 20, 2016 Komagatani Gym, Sanda, Japan Won vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
39 Loss 30–8 (1) José Argumedo TD 9 (12), 3:00 Dec 31, 2015 Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan Lost IBF mini-flyweight title
38 Win 30–7 (1) Ryuji Hara TKO 8 (12), 1:20 Sep 27, 2015 Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan Retained IBF mini-flyweight title
37 Win 29–7 (1) Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. TD 9 (12), 2:19 Apr 22, 2015 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan Retained IBF mini-flyweight title
36 Win 28–7 (1) Go Odaira TKO 7 (12), 2:24 Dec 31, 2014 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan Won vacant WBO and IBF mini-flyweight titles
35 Loss 27–7 (1) Francisco Rodríguez Jr. UD 12 Aug 9, 2014 Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico Lost IBF mini-flyweight title;
For WBO mini-flyweight title
34 Win 27–6 (1) Shin Ono UD 12 May 7, 2014 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan Retained IBF mini-flyweight title
33 Win 26–6 (1) Vergilio Silvano UD 12 Dec 3, 2013 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan Retained IBF mini-flyweight title
32 Win 25–6 (1) Mario Rodríguez UD 12 Mar 30, 2013 Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón, Guasave, Mexico Won IBF mini-flyweight title
31 Loss 24–6 (1) Mateo Handig SD 12 Oct 13, 2012 Municipal Gymnasium, La Trinidad, Philippines For vacant IBF Pan Pacific mini-flyweight title
30 Loss 24–5 (1) Nkosinathi Joyi UD 12 Mar 30, 2012 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa For IBF mini-flyweight title
29 NC 24–4 (1) Nkosinathi Joyi NC 3 (12), 1:59 Jan 29, 2011 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa IBF mini-flyweight title at stake;
NC after Takayama cut from accidental head clash
28 Win 24–4 Tshepo Lefele TKO 6 (12), 0:51 Sep 1, 2010 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
27 Loss 23–4 Román González UD 12 Jul 14, 2009 World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Japan For WBA mini-flyweight title
26 Win 23–3 Roemart Sentillas UD 8 Mar 12, 2009 World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Japan
25 Win 22–3 Javier Murillo UD 10 Sep 22, 2008 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
24 Win 21–3 Mating Kilakil KO 9 (10), 3:08 Apr 28, 2008 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
23 Win 20–3 Ngaoprajan SIthsaithong TKO 9 (10), 1:24 Jan 5, 2008 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
22 Win 19–3 Fabio Marfa UD 10 Oct 6, 2007 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
21 Loss 18–3 Yutaka Niida SD 12 Apr 7, 2007 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan For WBA mini-flyweight title
20 Win 18–2 Carlos Melo TD 9 (12), 1:30 Nov 7, 2006 Grand Cube, Osaka, Japan Won WBA interim mini-flyweight title
19 Win 17–2 Satoshi Kogumazaka TD 9 (10), 2:08 Mar 18, 2006 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won Japanese mini-flyweight title
18 Win 16–2 Rollen Del Castillo TD 8 (10), 0:21 Dec 3, 2005 Central Hall, Osaka, Japan
17 Loss 15–2 Eagle Kyowa UD 12 Aug 6, 2005 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Lost WBC mini-flyweight title
16 Win 15–1 Isaac Bustos UD 12 Apr 4, 2005 Central Gym, Osaka, Japan Won WBC mini-flyweight title
15 Win 14–1 Numchai Taksinisan KO 3 (10), 1:48 Dec 8, 2004 Central Hall, Osaka, Japan
14 Win 13–1 Elmer Gejon MD 10 Aug 7, 2004 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
13 Win 12–1 Kosuke Fujiwara UD 10 Feb 15, 2004 Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
12 Win 11–1 Saming Twingym TKO 3 (8), 1:23 Dec 21, 2003 Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
11 Loss 10–1 Masato Hatakeyama TKO 9 (10), 2:34 Apr 21, 2003 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan For Japanese junior-flyweight title
10 Win 10–0 Songkram Porpaoin MD 8 Oct 14, 2002 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9 Win 9–0 Takashi Okajima TKO 8 (10), 1:43 Jul 13, 2002 Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
8 Win 8–0 Daisaku Kashiwagi TKO 4 (8), 2:32 May 5, 2002 Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
7 Win 7–0 Koyo Yamazaki UD 6 Dec 15, 2001 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6 Win 6–0 Yoshifumi Nishimura TKO 2 (6), 2:04 Nov 18, 2001 Spark Chikujo, Chikujō, Japan
5 Win 5–0 Daigoro Omagari UD 6 Oct 13, 2001 City Hall, Nagoya, Japan
4 Win 4–0 Hiroaki Kusunoki MD 6 Sep 13, 2001 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
3 Win 3–0 Taiki Tatsuiwa KO 2 (4) Jul 22, 2001 Mizuno Sports, Osaka, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Takashi Kunishige UD 4 Apr 28, 2001 Azalea Taisho, Osaka, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Yozo Nakamura TKO 4 (4) Oct 18, 2000 Archaic Hall, Amagasaki, Japan

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mitsuru Jōjima (April 15, 2005). 高山勝成 - 不変純粋で頂点 (in Japanese). Sankei Digital Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  2. ^ Asazawa & Shibuya 2007, p. 21
  3. ^ 高山勝成陣営、強硬姿勢から一転謝罪. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Asazawa & Shibuya 2007, p. 61
  5. ^ a b c d e Fitness Sports 2012, p. 78.
  6. ^ 委員長会議報告書 (in Japanese). Japan Boxing Commission. March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  7. ^ "WBOとIBFへの加盟申し入れ". Daily Sports. October 15, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  8. ^ Salven Lagumbay, Rene Bonsubre Jr. (Cebu Daily News) (April 29, 2010). "Japanese ex-world champ trains at ALA gym". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  9. ^ Salven Lagumbay (Cebu Daily News) (April 29, 2010). "Aldeguer: After 25 years ALA Promotions set to go global". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  10. ^ Rene Bonsubre Jr. (Cebu Daily News) (September 3, 2010). "Takayama stops Lefele in 6th round of their IBF eliminator". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  11. ^ "2度延期もプラス…高山、南アへ「KOで倒したい」". Sports Nippon. January 24, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  12. ^ Chris LaBate (January 29, 2011). "Joyi-Takayama a No-Contest, Mendez Decisions Baloyi". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  13. ^ Corey Erdman (March 29, 2012). "Joyi finally getting TV time against Takayama". RingTV. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  14. ^ "高山、敵地で0–3判定負け…IBF世界ミニマム級" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi (Osaka Edition). April 1, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  15. ^ 高山勝成、新王者ならず…地元判定に泣く (in Japanese). Daily Sports. March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  16. ^ Kyodo News (March 31, 2012). "高山、判定で敗れる IBFミニマム級". Nihon Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  17. ^ Alexey Sukachev (March 30, 2012). "Nkosinathi Joyi Decisions Katsunari Takayama To Retain". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Ron Jackson (March 31, 2012). "Joyi retains IBF minimumweight belt". Fightnews.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  19. ^ Boxing Bob Newman (November 24, 2010). "WBA 2010 Awards Banquet". Fightnews.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  20. ^ Ronnie Nathanielsz (April 2, 2012). "IBF Responds To Allegations of Takayama Being Robbed". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  21. ^ Edri K. Aznar (October 15, 2012). "Handig pulls off stunning upset over Takayama". Sun.Star Cebu. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  22. ^ Chito Yu Katangkatang (October 13, 2012). "Handig Singwangcha decisions Takayama". Fightnews.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  23. ^ Roderick Osis (January 19, 2012). "IBF orders Handig–Takayama rematch". Sun.Star. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  24. ^ "高山のタイトル戦決定＝3度目の挑戦、メキシコで－IBFミニマム級". Jiji Press. February 21, 2013. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  25. ^ "Japonés Takayama vence a mexicano Rodríguez y es nuevo campeón mundial paja de la FIB". Terra Chile. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  26. ^ Edri K. Aznar (April 2, 2013). "Takayama gives ALA third world title". Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  27. ^ Joe Koizumi (March 22, 2013). "Japan joins IBF". Fightnews.com. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  28. ^ "IBF王者高山にJBCライセンス再発行". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  29. ^ Jake Donovan (December 3, 2013). "Takayama Dominates Silvano; Zhao Zhong Unifier Next?". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  30. ^ Anson Wainwright (June 29, 2010). "Q & A with Katsunari Takayama". 15rounds.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  31. ^ Boxing Beat editorial department (July 24, 2011). "山口11回TKO負け WBOフェザー級戦＝詳報" (in Japanese). MACC Publications Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2012.

Video references[edit]

  1. ^ IBFミニフライ級記者会見 (YouTube video) (in Spanish and Japanese). Osaka Tenjin Gym. March 27, 2013. Event occurs at 4:24. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  2. ^ Despojan del título al Dragoncito Rodríguez (in Spanish). TelevisaDeportes.com. November 28, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2013.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Asazawa, Ei; Shibuya, Jun (September 10, 2007). 移籍騒動の高山、問題収束せぬまま10月に再起", "新井田豊、因縁の再戦に完勝. Boxing Magazine (in Japanese). No. October 2007 issue. Tokyo, Japan: Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd. pp. 21, 61.
  • Boxing Beat editorial department (February 15, 2012). MACC Publications Inc (ed.). インタビュー 高山勝成. Ironman. Boxing Beat (in Japanese) (special issue). Tokyo, Japan: Fitness Sports Co., Ltd.: 78.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Satoshi Kogumazaka
 Japanese mini-flyweight champion
March 18, 2006 – 2006
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Teruo Misawa
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC mini-flyweight champion
April 4, 2005 – August 6, 2005 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Juan Jose Landaeta 		WBA mini-flyweight champion
Interim title
November 7, 2006 – April 7, 2007
Lost bid for full title 		Vacant
Title next held by
Sammy Gutiérrez
Preceded by IBF mini-flyweight champion
March 30, 2013 – August 9, 2014 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Francisco Rodríguez Jr. 		IBF mini-flyweight champion
December 31, 2014 – December 31, 2015 		Succeeded by
WBO mini-flyweight champion
December 31, 2014 – March 3, 2015
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Kosei Tanaka
Vacant
Title last held by
Kosei Tanaka 		WBO mini-flyweight champion
August 20, 2016 – April 3, 2017
Retired 		Succeeded by
Tatsuya Fukuhara
promoted from interim status
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