Takefumi Sakata
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese boxer
in the flyweight (112 lb/50 kg) division and a former WBA
flyweight
champion
.
Sakata was the premier boxer in the Kyoei boxing gym before the arrival of Kōki Kameda
in 2005. He stayed out of the limelight for most of his career, even being used as Kameda's sparring partner, but finally won a world title in 2007, defeating Lorenzo Parra
for the vacant WBA Flyweight title.
. He moved to Tokyo during summer vacation, and entered the Kyoei boxing gym to begin serious training.
On June 4, 2004, Sakata fought Lorenzo Parra
for the WBA Flyweight title at the Ariake Coliseum
in Tokyo
, Japan
, but lost by 12 round decision. He fought Parra again in September of the same year, but lost by decision again.
He marked five straight wins after his losses against Parra, and fought Roberto Vasquez
in Paris
, France
, for the WBA Flyweight interim title on December 2, 2006. He suffered a knockdown in the 5th round, but fought back hard in the second half, and Vasquez barely managed to keep his title with a 2-1 split decision.
for the third time, and became the champion by TKO in the 3rd round. This was Sakata's first win out of four world title matches. The day before the fight, Parra could not make the 112 lb weight limit. He tried again two hours later, but was still 4 pounds overweight. As a consequence, Parra was stripped of the title and fined 35% of his fight money. The WBA decided to hold the title match with a bantamweight
limit (118 lb/53 kg), and Parra was introduced as the former champion for the fight.
Sakata has since then defended his title four times. Most recently, he retained it with a unanimous decision win over Hiroyuki Hisataka on July 30, 2008. On his fifth defense however, he was dismantled in two rounds by Denkaosan Kaovichit
of Thailand on December 31, 2008.
who won the title from Kaovichit in two attempts. Unfortunately for Sakata, Kameda won the bout on all score cards.
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...
in the flyweight (112 lb/50 kg) division and a former 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...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
.
Sakata was the premier boxer in the Kyoei boxing gym before the arrival of Kōki Kameda
Koki Kameda
is a Japanese professional boxer in the Flyweight division and the current WBA Bantamweight Regular Champion. He is the oldest of the three Kameda brothers. His younger brother, Daiki Kameda, is a professional boxer in the super flyweight division, and the youngest brother Tomoki, is the WBC Youth...
in 2005. He stayed out of the limelight for most of his career, even being used as Kameda's sparring partner, but finally won a world title in 2007, defeating Lorenzo Parra
Lorenzo Parra
Lorenzo "Lencho" Parra is a Venezuelan professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association flyweight champion....
for the vacant WBA Flyweight title.
Early career
Sakata began boxing when he joined his school's amateur boxing team in his first year in high school. He quit after only a couple months, but returned to boxing in his senior year, when he entered a local boxing gym, run by the father of former WBA Middlweight champion Shinji TakeharaShinji Takehara
was a professional boxer in the Middleweight division. Takehara was Japan's only boxer to capture a World Middleweight Title, which is also the highest weight class in which a Japanese boxer has captured a World Title....
. He moved to Tokyo during summer vacation, and entered the Kyoei boxing gym to begin serious training.
Professional career
Sakata won his debut fight by 3rd round TKO in 1998. He won the Japanese Flyweight title in 2001, and defended the title three times before losing by 10 round decision to Trash Nakanuma in 2002. He fought Nakanuma again in April, 2003, and won by decision, regaining his title. He defended the title two more times before returning it.On June 4, 2004, Sakata fought Lorenzo Parra
Lorenzo Parra
Lorenzo "Lencho" Parra is a Venezuelan professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association flyweight champion....
for the WBA Flyweight title at the Ariake Coliseum
Ariake Coliseum
is an indoor sporting arena in located in Ariake, Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan. It has a capacity of 10,000. The arena is used as the center court for the Japan Open Tennis Championships and the Toray Pan Pacific Open held in Ariake Tennis Forest Park....
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
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...
, but lost by 12 round decision. He fought Parra again in September of the same year, but lost by decision again.
He marked five straight wins after his losses against Parra, and fought Roberto Vasquez
Roberto Vásquez
Roberto Vásquez is a southpaw boxer. Fighting in the flyweight division, his record is 24-1 . He is currently the WBA world flyweight interim champion....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, for the WBA Flyweight interim title on December 2, 2006. He suffered a knockdown in the 5th round, but fought back hard in the second half, and Vasquez barely managed to keep his title with a 2-1 split decision.
World champion
On March 9, 2007, Sakata fought WBA Flyweight champion Lorenzo ParraLorenzo Parra
Lorenzo "Lencho" Parra is a Venezuelan professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association flyweight champion....
for the third time, and became the champion by TKO in the 3rd round. This was Sakata's first win out of four world title matches. The day before the fight, Parra could not make the 112 lb weight limit. He tried again two hours later, but was still 4 pounds overweight. As a consequence, Parra was stripped of the title and fined 35% of his fight money. The WBA decided to hold the title match with a bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
limit (118 lb/53 kg), and Parra was introduced as the former champion for the fight.
Sakata has since then defended his title four times. Most recently, he retained it with a unanimous decision win over Hiroyuki Hisataka on July 30, 2008. On his fifth defense however, he was dismantled in two rounds by Denkaosan Kaovichit
Denkaosan Kaovichit
Denkaosan Kaovichit a.k.a. Denkaosan Redbull Gym. a.k.a. Denkaosan Singwangcha is a professional boxer from Thailand and reigning WBA Flyweight World champion. He is also a Muslim....
of Thailand on December 31, 2008.
Attempt to regain crown
Sakata received an opportunity to take back the WBA 112-lb title on September 25, 2010. There, he faced Daiki KamedaDaiki Kameda
is a Japanese professional boxer in the flyweight division. He is the former WBA Flyweight Champion. Kameda has made it his custom to sing a song for the audience after each of his victories.-Personal life:...
who won the title from Kaovichit in two attempts. Unfortunately for Sakata, Kameda won the bout on all score cards.