Will Takeshi Ishii Become the First Pure Professional-Trained World Champion from Ohashi Gym in Years? Ahead of his WBA minimumweight title bout against third-ranked Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico on 2 September in Yokohama—one of two world title fights on the card—second-ranked Ishii held an open workout on 14 August at Ohashi Gym, demonstrating that his preparations are progressing smoothly.
初挑戦の石井を挟んで大橋会長㊨と北野トレーナー
Hideyuki Ohashi, gym president, who set a goal of surpassing his former Yonekura Gym’s record of producing five world champions during his active fighting era, now sees Ohashi Gym matched with his old stable at five world champions. “The time has finally come to surpass it,” said Ohashi with determination.
The promising 26-year-old Ishii, who transitioned from kickboxing, holds a record of 11-1 (8 KOs). In recent years, the primary path to world title contention has seen elite amateur fighters turning professional, making it exceptionally rare for a fighter who built their career step-by-step from four-round bouts to reach world level. However, Ishii seems to find purpose in this challenge, stating, “I believe there is real value in someone like me—without amateur experience or innate talent—becoming a world champion.”
With his upcoming opponent Mendez being a southpaw, Ishii has logged extensive sparring against southpaws, including former WBA champion Ryusei Matsumoto (Teiken Gym). Although this will mark Ishii’s first fight against a southpaw in official competition, he declared confidently, “I have no aversion to southpaws at all; in fact, I consider it a strength.”
Ishii added, “[Mendez] is a highly skilled boxer who excels at controlling rounds and playing the point game, so it may be difficult to dictate the pace as I would like. But I am developing the tools to break through that, and I hope people look out for those adjustments.”
ミット打ちを披露する石井㊨
The bout will take place on 2 September starting at 3:00 PM at Yokohama BUNTAI, alongside the main event featuring Daia Kira against Carlos Canizares for the vacant WBA world light-flyweight title, as well as Yuga Fujiki’s second professional fight. The event will be broadcast live via Lemino.
