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Kosei Tanaka

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Kosei Tanaka
田中恒成
Born (1995-06-15) 15 June 1995 (age 29)
Tajimi, Japan
Other names
Chukyo no Kaibutsu (中京の怪物) "Monster of Chukyo"
  • Dream Boy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Reach64+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights22
Wins20
Wins by KO11
Losses2
Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Japan
Asian Youth Championships
Silver medal – second place 2013 Subic Bay Junior-flyweight

Kosei Tanaka (田中 恒成, Tanaka Kōsei, born 15 June 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a four-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016; the WBO junior-flyweight title from 2016 to 2017; the WBO flyweight title from 2018 to 2020; and the WBO super-flyweight title from February 2024 to October 2024. Upon winning his first world title in only his fifth bout, he became the fastest Japanese fighter ever to become a world champion. Along with Vasyl Lomachenko, he is also the fastest ever fighter to win titles in three weight-classes, having accomplished the feat in only 12 bouts. He also surpassed Oscar De La Hoya to become the fastest four division champion, setting the bar at 21 fights. [1]

Amateur career

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As a child, Tanaka suffered from Legg–Calvé–Perthe disease. Despite this, he took up boxing and won four national high school tournaments competing as an amateur in the junior-flyweight division. At the continental and international level he was a quarter-finalist at the 2012 Youth World Championships and a silver medalist at the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships. At Chukyo Highschool he trained under former OPBF super flyweight champion Hideyasu Ishihara. He finished his amateur career with a record of 46-5 (13 KO/RSC). He was not stopped during his amateur career.[2]

Professional career

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Mini-flyweight

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Tanaka turned pro at the age of 18 in 2013. In November 2014, Tanaka defeated previously unbeaten Ryuji Hara via tenth-round technical knockout (TKO) to win the OPBF mini-flyweight title. In his next fight, Tanaka decisioned Julian Yedras (117–111, 117–111, 115–113) to win the WBO mini-flyweight title.[3] Tanaka holds the Japanese record for winning a world title in the fewest fights (five), surpassing the previous record held by Naoya Inoue of six fights.[4] Tanaka's only title defense at mini-flyweight came against Vic Saludar, whom he knocked out in round six after a left hook to the body. Saludar knocked down Tanaka in round six, and was ahead on all scorecards prior to the stoppage.[5]

Junior-flyweight

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In December 2016, Tanaka challenged former mini-flyweight title holder Moisés Fuentes for the WBO junior-flyweight title. Tanaka dominated Fuentes, dropping him in round five before referee Raul Caiz Jr stopped the fight, giving Tanaka a TKO victory. With the win, Tanaka became a two-weight world champion in just eight fights.[6] Tanaka's first defense came against prospect Ángel Acosta. The former won a wide unanimous decision (UD) (117–110, 117–110, 116–111) and dropped Acosta once. Acosta had won all 16 of his previous fights by knockout.[7]

Tanaka's second defense took place in September 2017 against little-known fighter Palangpol CP Freshmart. Tanaka was a huge favorite going into the fight, but Palangpol would prove to be Tanaka's toughest challenger so far, dropping the defending champion once in the first round and trading back-and-forth combinations for the rest of the bout. After a thrilling fight, Tanaka would finally gain the upper hand in round nine, as he knocked down Palangpol and continued to land big combinations as the challenger struggled to connect. Eventually, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:52 in round nine.[8][9][10]

Tanaka had previously sought a unification bout against WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi in December,[11] but injuries during the fight against Palangpol would prevent him from fighting on that date.[12]

Flyweight

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In December 2017, Tanaka vacated his junior-flyweight title to move to the flyweight division.[13] In September 2018, Tanaka defeated Sho Kimura to capture the WBO flyweight title, equalling Vasyl Lomachenko's record of becoming a three-weight world champion in just 12 fights.[citation needed]

In March 2019, Tanaka fought former WBA, IBF, lineal and The Ring junior flyweight champion and domestic rival Ryoichi Taguchi for the first defense of his WBO flyweight title in a one sided bout described as "action packed" by spectators. After the fight, Tanaka expressed regret that he did not deliver a knockout.[14]

In August 2019, Tanaka fought Jonathan González after losing on all three judge's scorecards leading up to the seventh round, Tanaka delivered a brutal knock out to make a second successful defense of his WBO flyweight title.[15]

On New Year's Eve in 2019, Tanaka fought Wulan Tuolehazi, Tanaka delivered a brutal third-round knockout after a one sided fight to defend his WBO flyweight title for the third time. Shortly after the bout, he vacated his WBO flyweight title, announcing that he intended to fight Kazuto Ioka for his WBO super flyweight title.[16]

Super-flyweight

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Tanaka faced WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka on New Year's Eve 2020 in an attempt to win a major title in four divisions in the fewest fights. He would have become the second Japanese champion to win a major title in four divisions if he was victorious, the first being his opponent, Ioka.[17] After a competitive first four rounds in which Tanaka was the aggressor and Ioka found success with counter punches, Ioka dropped his opponent in the fifth round with a counter left hook. With about a minute left in the sixth round, he again knocked Tanaka down. In the eighth round, Ioka caught his opponent with another hard counter left hook, and referee Michiaki Someya caught Tanaka before he could fall and waved off the fight, with Ioka inflicting Tanaka with his first professional loss and retaining his WBO title via eighth-round technical knockout.[18]

Tanaka was booked to face the one-time WBA super-flyweight title challenger Sho Ishida on 11 December 2021, at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan.[19] He won the fight by split decision, with two judges awarding him a 96-94 and 96-95 scorecard respectively, while the third judge scored the fight 96-94 for Ishida.[20]

Tanaka faced the reigning OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight champion Masayoshi Hashizume, for the latter title, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on 29 June 2022.[21] The fight headlined the "89th Phoenix Battle" and was broadcast by Hikari TV.[22] Tanaka won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.[23] Tanaka vacated the WBO Asia Pacific title on 23 August 2022.[24]

Tanaka then faced Yanga Sigqibo on 11 December 2022, at the Takeda Teva Ocean Arena in Nagoya, Japan.[25] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[26]

WBO Super Flyweight Champion

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Tanaka was originally scheduled to make the first defense of his WBO super flyweight title against Jonathan Rodriguez at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on July 20, 2024.[27] However, this fight was called off the day before it was due after Rodriguez missed weight by nearly seven pounds.[28]

Tanaka made his first defense against South African Phumelele Cafu on October 14, 2024. The fight was held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.[29] He lost the bout by split decision.[30]

Professional boxing record

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22 fights 20 wins 2 losses
By knockout 11 1
By decision 9 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
22 Loss 20–2 Phumelele Cafu SD 12 14 Oct 2024 Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan Lost WBO super flyweight title
21 Win 20–1 Christian Bacasegua UD 12 24 Feb 2024 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan Won vacant WBO super flyweight title
20 Win 19–1 Pablo Carrillo TKO 10 (10), 2:43 21 May 2023 Paloma Mizuho Arena, Nagoya, Japan
19 Win 18–1 Yanga Sigqibo UD 10 11 Dec 2022 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan
18 Win 17–1 Masayoshi Hashizume TKO 5 (12), 2:52 29 Jun 2022 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won WBO Asia Pacific super-flyweight title
17 Win 16–1 Sho Ishida SD 10 11 Dec 2021 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
16 Loss 15–1 Kazuto Ioka TKO 8 (12), 1:35 31 Dec 2020 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan For WBO super-flyweight title
15 Win 15–0 Wulan Tuolehazi KO 3 (12), 2:29 31 Dec 2019 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
14 Win 14–0 Jonathan González TKO 7 (12), 2:49 24 Aug 2019 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Ryoichi Taguchi UD 12 16 Mar 2019 Memorial Center, Gifu, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
12 Win 12–0 Sho Kimura MD 12 24 Sep 2018 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Won WBO flyweight title
12 Win 11–0 Ronnie Baldonado TKO 9 (10), 2:26 31 Mar 2018 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
10 Win 10–0 Palangpol CP Freshmart TKO 9 (12), 1:29 13 Sep 2017 Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan Retained WBO junior-flyweight title
9 Win 9–0 Ángel Acosta UD 12 20 May 2017 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO junior-flyweight title
8 Win 8–0 Moisés Fuentes TKO 5 (12), 1:52 31 Dec 2016 Memorial Center, Gifu, Japan Won vacant WBO junior-flyweight title
7 Win 7–0 Rene Patilano KO 6 (10), 2:23 28 May 2016 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
6 Win 6–0 Vic Saludar KO 6 (12), 2:15 31 Dec 2015 Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO mini-flyweight title
5 Win 5–0 Julian Yedras UD 12 30 May 2015 Park Arena Komaki, Komaki, Japan Won vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
4 Win 4–0 Ryuji Hara TKO 10 (12), 0:50 30 Oct 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won OPBF mini-flyweight title
3 Win 3–0 Crison Omayao KO 1 (10), 1:55 20 Jul 2014 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Ronelle Ferreras UD 8 16 Mar 2014 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Oscar Raknafa UD 6 10 Nov 2013 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan

Personal life

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Tanaka balanced professional boxing with school and in 2019 graduated with a degree in economics from Chukyo University.[31] He is the cousin of Japanese figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and younger brother of amateur fighter Ryomei Tanaka. He said that he admires Naoya Inoue in an interview with The Japan Times.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "田中恒成が史上最速の世界４階級制覇「これが欲しかった！」 井岡一翔、井上尚弥に次ぐ日本人史上３人目の快挙…ＷＢＯ世界Ｓ・フライ級王座決定戦". hochi.news (in Japanese). 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ "田中 恒成(Kosei Tanaka)". 3 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Kosei Tanaka".
  4. ^ Salazar, Victor (1 June 2015). "19-year-old unbeaten Japanese, Kosei Tanaka Wins WBO Title". Tha Boxing Voice. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Kosei Tanaka Climbs off Canvas to Stop Vic Saludar in Six". 31 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Tanaka Blasts Fuentes, Becomes Two Division Champ in 8 Fights". 31 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Kosei Tanaka Drops, Decisions Angel Acosta to Retain Title". 20 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Iwasa stops Oguni, Tanaka retains despite knockdown". 13 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Tanaka climbs off deck to stop Chayanram, Iwasa wins junior feather belt". 13 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Kosei Tanaka dropped, cut and damaged, but guts out thrilling win!".
  11. ^ "Taguchi dominates Barrera, moves towards unification with Kosei Tanaka!".
  12. ^ "Kosei Tanaka suffers suspected Orbital fracture, no brain injury suspected".
  13. ^ "WBO light flyweight champ Kosei Tanaka relinquishes title, eyes flyweight crown: Source". December 2017.
  14. ^ "Kosei Tanaka retains flyweight title with action-packed win over Ryoichi Taguchi". 16 March 2019.
  15. ^ "BoxRec: Kosei Tanaka".
  16. ^ "BoxRec: Kosei Tanaka".
  17. ^ "BoxRec: Kosei Tanaka". boxrec.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. ^ Christ, Scott (31 December 2020). "Ioka vs Tanaka results: Kazuto Ioka stops Kosei Tanaka in eighth round, retains WBO title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  19. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (27 September 2021). "Kosei Tanaka to return December 11th against Sho Ishida". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  20. ^ "田中恒成 １年ぶりの再起戦で判定勝ち「リングに戻ってきて楽しかった」". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  21. ^ Christ, Scott (11 April 2022). "Kosei Tanaka to face Masayoshi Hashizume in June 29 fight at Korakuen Hall". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  22. ^ "告知 大橋ジム監修ホープ発掘企画「ボクサーズロード」 6.29決勝 120万円かけひかりTVで放送". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  23. ^ "田中恒成が5回TKO勝ちでWBOアジア・パシフィック王座獲得 4階級制覇再挑戦へ前進". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  24. ^ "元世界3階級王者の田中恒成「目指すのは世界だから」WBO・AP王座を返上【ボクシング】". chunichi.co.jp. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  25. ^ Zifo, Mesuli (14 October 2022). "Sigqibo signs on for big bout in Japan". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  26. ^ Zifo, Mesuli (12 December 2022). "Rave reviews for Sigqibo despite Japan loss". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  27. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (31 May 2024). "Junto Nakatani faces Vincent Astrolabio in Tokyo in July". FIGHTMAG.
  28. ^ Donovan, Jake (19 July 2024). "Kosei Tanaka WBO Title Defense Canceled After Jonathan Rodriguez Blows Weight". RingTV.
  29. ^ Staff (22 August 2024). "Phumelela Cafu hoping his dream comes true against Kosei Tanaka". BoxingScene.
  30. ^ Staff (14 October 2024). "田中恒成、5回にダウン奪われ、僅差判定で王座陥落　ボクシングWBOスーパーフライ級". sankei.com.
  31. ^ @KOsei530 (19 March 2019). "中京大学経済学部を卒業しました‼︎お世話になった皆さんに感謝します。同時に理事長特別賞も頂きました。中京大学での学びに自信を持ち高い志を持ってこの先を歩んでいきます。写真提供:モバイル植田さん✌️#中京大学#卒業" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Interview with Kosei Tanaka, WBO flyweight champion. YouTube.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by OPBF mini-flyweight champion
30 October 2014 – 30 May 2015
Won WBO world title 		Vacant
Title next held by
Xiong Chaozhong
Preceded by
Masayoshi Hashizume
 WBO Asia Pacific
super-flyweight champion
29 June 2022 – 2022
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Tsubasa Murachi
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Katsunari Takayama 		WBO mini-flyweight champion
30 May 2015 – 7 April 2016
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Katsunari Takayama
Vacant
Title last held by
Donnie Nietes 		WBO light-flyweight champion
31 December 2016 – 30 November 2017
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Ángel Acosta
Preceded by WBO flyweight champion
24 September 2018 – 31 January 2020
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Junto Nakatani
Vacant
Title last held by
Junto Nakatani 		WBO super-flyweight champion
24 February – 14 October 2024 		Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by
Naoya Inoue
6 fights
 Fastest Japanese fighter to win a world title
5 fights
30 May 2015 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Vasyl Lomachenko
tied on 12 fights
 Fewest professional fights
to win a major world title
in three weight classes
24 September 2018 – present
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