“When I saw the belt this morning, it really hit home that I’d become world champion.”
Takashi Ishii (Ohashi), who claimed the WBA World Minimumweight title with a surprise first-round knockout victory, spoke once again of his joy at a post-fight press conference held at his gym on the 3rd. The new champion, who said he hadn’t slept a wink since the fight, described his current feelings, saying, “I’m absolutely delighted; it feels like I’m living a dream.”
一夜明けて会見を行った新王者石井㊨とホープ藤木
Although the team’s strategy had been to go on the offensive from the first round, both Chairman Hideyuki Ohashi and trainer Azuma Yaegashi revealed that they had never expected him to knock his opponent out in the very first round. The knockout time of ‘65 seconds’ is the fastest ever recorded by a Japanese boxer to win a world title. Takashi himself did not realise it straight away; it was only when he stepped out of the ring to greet his senior, Naoya Inoue, and was told, ‘Takashi, you’ve beaten my record,’ that he first realised what had happened.
Reflecting on the bout, Ishii said, ‘I just happened to land a good punch and knocked him down. At around the count of eight, I honestly thought he wouldn’t get back up, and the moment I heard the ten-count, I was overcome with emotions I can’t even put into words.’ He added that whilst he had anticipated fighting the full 12 rounds to secure victory, the left body blow that proved decisive—though not intended—was a punch he had practised.
Chairman Ohashi described it as “a truly strange feeling” that the same belt, once held by Chairman Ohashi and trainer Yaegashi, had now been passed on to Ishii. Ishii remarked, “I take pride in this belt. I believe it is a belt of immense value.”
The emergence of Ohashi Gym’s sixth world champion surpasses the record of five set by Yonekura Gym, to which Chairman Ohashi once belonged. Having attended a memorial service that day for his senior at the gym, Guts Ishimatsu—who passed away on 2 June—before travelling to Yokohama, Chairman Ohashi savoured the moment, remarking, “Guts and Chairman Yonekura came down to lend their support; I can only believe that some kind of force was at work.”
Regarding his first title defence, plans are in place to hold a mandatory defence match before the end of the year. He is also keen to face Japanese opponents in the future. Whilst a bout against former champion Ryusei Matsumoto (Teiken) is particularly anticipated, Ishii remained positive, stating, “As I’ve said before, I believe a truly strong fighter is someone who takes on and defeats those said to be stronger than themselves, so I want to work hard with that goal in mind.”
■ Next up: Yuga Fujiki, challenger for the WBC Youth Lightweight title
Yuga Fujiki, known as ‘The King’, who secured a convincing victory in his second professional bout as the undercard for the double world title fight, also attended the press conference. Reflecting on a reasonably successful bout, he said, “I landed my jabs solidly from the first round; I think it went pretty much as I’d anticipated.” Despite the convincing win, he acknowledged areas for improvement, revealing, “How I handle myself when backed into the ropes.”
Fujiki had aimed to challenge for a regional title in his third professional bout, but Chairman Ohashi revealed that, as a contract could not be finalised, he has instead been approved to challenge for the WBC Youth Lightweight title. “If I win this title, I think I’ll move up the rankings, so it’s all good news,” said Fujiki.
