Kōji Kobayashi (boxer)
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japan
ese boxer
who is a former WBC
flyweight
champion. As of August, 2011, he is Japan's latest world champion who was certified by The Ring
.
Kobayashi was poor at sports in his childhood. He was a slow runner, and lacked in arm strength. He began boxing at Tanabe Boxing Gym while studying design at Tokyo Designer Gakuin College after graduating from high school, and transferred to Kadoebi Houseki Boxing Gym after a year.
Kobayashi made his professional debut with a third round knockout victory in December 1978. He won the annual Japanese boxing series, East Japan Rookie King Tournament in the flyweight division by knocking out the future Japanese featherweight
champion Hiroyuki Kobayashi at the Korakuen Hall
in December 1979. However, he was knocked out by Jirō Watanabe
in the first round of the final match of All-Japan Rookie King Tournament at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in February 1980. He then had a fifteen-fight winning streak including ten knockouts over the former world ranked boxer Facomron Vibonchai, the national champions of Thailand
, Philippines
, Korea
and others.
On January 18, 1984, Kobayashi fought against Frank Cedeño for the WBC and The Ring flyweight titles at the Korakuen Hall. For that fight, Isamu Mitsuhira, the former trainer of Kyokutō Boxing Club to which Yoshiaki Numata
belonged, served as his special coach. Kobayashi, who appeared in the ring while listening to the music with the Walkman
, knocked out Cedeño flooring him four times with his left cross
es and left hook
in the second round to be crowned the new champion.
In his first defense in April 1984, he was knocked out by the mandatory challenger Gabriel Bernal
in the second round at the Korakuen Hall. Kobayashi moved up in weight division and was poised to be a double champion, but lost to Kazuo Katsuma via a twelfth round stoppage in the WBC junior bantamweight
title eliminator in March 1985. He retired after a two-fight losing streak.
Currently Kobayashi teaches sports as a civil servant in Katsushika.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who is a former WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion. As of August, 2011, he is Japan's latest world champion who was certified by The Ring
The Ring
- Film :* The Ring , a film by Alfred Hitchcock* The Ring , a film by Kurt Neumann* The Ring , a film by Armand Mastroianni...
.
Kobayashi was poor at sports in his childhood. He was a slow runner, and lacked in arm strength. He began boxing at Tanabe Boxing Gym while studying design at Tokyo Designer Gakuin College after graduating from high school, and transferred to Kadoebi Houseki Boxing Gym after a year.
Kobayashi made his professional debut with a third round knockout victory in December 1978. He won the annual Japanese boxing series, East Japan Rookie King Tournament in the flyweight division by knocking out the future Japanese featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion Hiroyuki Kobayashi at the Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...
in December 1979. However, he was knocked out by Jirō Watanabe
Jiro Watanabe
is a Japanese former boxerWatanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World Super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.-Biography:...
in the first round of the final match of All-Japan Rookie King Tournament at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in February 1980. He then had a fifteen-fight winning streak including ten knockouts over the former world ranked boxer Facomron Vibonchai, the national champions of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and others.
On January 18, 1984, Kobayashi fought against Frank Cedeño for the WBC and The Ring flyweight titles at the Korakuen Hall. For that fight, Isamu Mitsuhira, the former trainer of Kyokutō Boxing Club to which Yoshiaki Numata
Yoshiaki Numata
Yoshiaki Numata is a former world Junior Lightweight boxing champion.Numata turned professional in 1962 and won the WBC and WBA super featherweight world titles by defeating Flash Elorde by decision in 1967, although Numata was knocked down in the 3rd round. He lost the title in his first...
belonged, served as his special coach. Kobayashi, who appeared in the ring while listening to the music with the Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
, knocked out Cedeño flooring him four times with his left cross
Cross (boxing)
In boxing, a cross is a power-punch like the uppercut and hook. Compubox, a computerized punch scoring system, counts the cross as a power-punch....
es and left hook
Hook (boxing)
A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
in the second round to be crowned the new champion.
In his first defense in April 1984, he was knocked out by the mandatory challenger Gabriel Bernal
Gabriel Bernal
Gabriel Bernal was a retired WBC Flyweight Champion. He held the title for 6 months in 1984.-Pro career:...
in the second round at the Korakuen Hall. Kobayashi moved up in weight division and was poised to be a double champion, but lost to Kazuo Katsuma via a twelfth round stoppage in the WBC junior bantamweight
Super flyweight
Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
title eliminator in March 1985. He retired after a two-fight losing streak.
Currently Kobayashi teaches sports as a civil servant in Katsushika.