Takashi Koshimoto
Encyclopedia
Takashi Koshimoto is a former Japan
ese professional boxer in the featherweight
(126 lb
) division. He is a former WBC
world featherweight champion.
In January, 2001, he challenged Freddie Norwood
for the WBA
featherweight title, but lost by 9th round TKO. This was his first professional loss. Later that year, he won the OPBF featherweight title, which he defended 7 times before returning.
Koshimoto got his second world title shot on January 29, 2006, fighting WBC
featherweight champion Injin Chi. He won by 12 round decision, becoming the oldest Japanese boxer to win a world title, at 35 years of age. Koshimoto was paid almost nothing for the fight, since his gym had funded all the money needed for the title match.
On July 30, 2006, he fought WBC
Youth Champion Rodolfo López
for his first defense, losing by 7th round TKO. Koshimoto was hospitalized after the fight, and promptly announced his retirement. His record was 39-2-2 (17KOs).
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 professional boxer in the 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:...
(126 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) division. He 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...
world featherweight champion.
Childhood and Early Career
Koshimoto's parents divorced shortly after he was born, and Koshimoto was raised single-handedly by his father. He played baseball during his early teens, but took up boxing when his father founded a boxing gym in his local town. His father would be his trainer throughout his amateur and professional career. His amateur record was 6-6 (6 RSC).Professional career
Koshimoto made his debut in November 1992. In 1996, he won the Japanese featherweight title, which he defended 6 times before returning.In January, 2001, he challenged Freddie Norwood
Freddie Norwood
Freddie Norwood is a boxer in the lightweight division. Known as "Lil Hagler", Norwood defeated Antonio Cermeño to win the WBA Featherweight Title title in 1998. He successfully defended his title eight times before losing his title by a controversial 11th round TKO to Smoke Gainer...
for the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
featherweight title, but lost by 9th round TKO. This was his first professional loss. Later that year, he won the OPBF featherweight title, which he defended 7 times before returning.
Koshimoto got his second world title shot on January 29, 2006, fighting 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...
featherweight champion Injin Chi. He won by 12 round decision, becoming the oldest Japanese boxer to win a world title, at 35 years of age. Koshimoto was paid almost nothing for the fight, since his gym had funded all the money needed for the title match.
On July 30, 2006, he fought 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...
Youth Champion Rodolfo López
Rodolfo López
Rodolfo López is a professional boxer. He competes in the featherweight division. His record is 25–5–1 , and he is the current WBC world featherweight champion....
for his first defense, losing by 7th round TKO. Koshimoto was hospitalized after the fight, and promptly announced his retirement. His record was 39-2-2 (17KOs).