Ohashi Boxing Gym held a press conference on 28 May to announce that amateur standout Seiya Nakayama, 19, has turned professional under their banner.
大橋ジムからプロ転向する中山聖也
Hailing from Fukuoka, Nakayama is the youngest of the “Nakayama Three Brothers,” a trio well-known in amateur boxing circles along with his older brothers Sota and Koichi. While attending Higashi Fukuoka High School, he captured five national titles, including three consecutive Inter-High School Championships. Following his two brothers to Komazawa University last year, he won the National Sports Festival. He finished as runner-up at the All-Japan Championships, a result due to his withdrawal from the final bout after injuring his left fist. While he had initially aimed for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the scheduled weight classes did not align with his optimal weight (flyweight), prompting him to drop out of university after his freshman year to pursue a professional career.
Ohashi Gym President Hideyuki Ohashi, who was directly approached by Nakayama regarding a professional turn, initially advised him to do so “after graduating from university,” but ultimately accepted him due to Nakayama’s strong determination. After subsequently witnessing Nakayama sparring with Raito Kataoka at the gym, Ohashi expressed high regard for his potential, stating, “I was certain he would become a world champion.” Nakayama holds a 1-1 record against Yuga Fujiki from their elementary and junior high school days and has faced Raito Kataoka five times, including during their high school careers. Now belonging to the same gym as his two peers of the same age, Nakayama expressed his ambition: “I want to work diligently alongside them and aim for a world championship.”
アマチュア出
A powerful southpaw, Nakayama compiled an amateur record of 57 wins, including 30 stoppages, against a single loss. Possessing formidable one-punch power, he identifies his punching ability as his primary asset, a quality President Ohashi agrees is highly suited for the professional ranks. Standing 171 centimetres tall, Nakayama is expected to move up in weight in the future, and both he and observers acknowledge a stylistic resemblance to Junto Nakatani. Additionally, Nakayama noted that he studies the lead-hand utilization of fellow southpaw Shakur Stevenson (USA). He cited gym seniors Naoya and Takuma Inoue as his boxing idols.
According to President Ohashi, Nakayama will undergo a public professional license test on 10 June at a card hosted by the gym, which features Fujiki’s professional debut as the main event. Current Japanese light-flyweight youth champion Ryuta Suekuni (Lions Gym) is scheduled to serve as his sparring partner for the practical examination. Plans are underway for Nakayama to make his professional debut in August.
