クラークとのスパーリングを公開した但馬㊨

Tajima, who had fought in the heavyweight division at a maximum weight of 127 kg, began conditioning for the cruiserweight division (90.7 kg) in May. He made running—which he hadn’t prioritized much in the past—the centerpiece of his training, rigorously strengthening his lower body through morning roadwork and stair sprints. He also logged 80 rounds of sparring during this period, and Tajima commented on the effectiveness of his training, saying, “Unlike in my heavyweight days, I think I’m developing the stamina to hold my ground well into the middle rounds and beyond.”
His sparring partner that day was Lewis Clark (23), the Western Australia heavyweight champion from Australia. Facing this young prospect—who boasts a record of 10 wins (4 KOs) and 2 losses and fights with a lot of vocal intensity—Tajima immediately responded to advice from former two-division world champion Kazuki Kameda, who told him, “Vary your jabs up and down. Attack the body more.” He continued to press the attack throughout the bout, landing body hooks and other shots without losing his breath even in the later rounds, demonstrating that he is in excellent form.

クラークに右ストレートを決める但馬㊨

“Rather than losing muscle, I’ve lost fat, so my punches have become sharper and faster. Until now, I’ve been able to fight comfortably even when taking jabs, but now I’m focusing more on my defense. I see this fight as a stepping stone to the world title, and I want to give it my all and show the difference in our abilities.” The new Tajima expressed his determination.
Tajima’s record stands at 13 wins (11 KOs) and 2 losses, while champion Muftah’s record is 11 wins (7 KOs) and 6 losses.

梅津との激闘を制し日本タイトルを獲得した栗原

The Fighting Spirit Award went to WBO Asia-Pacific Super Lightweight Champion Kuntae Lee (Teiken). Lee won a 3-0 unanimous decision over tough opponent Itsuki Tomioka (Kadoebi Jewel) in the 10th round during his first title defense on June 6.

富岡を撃退した李㊧は敢闘賞に

Yuga Fujiki (Ohashi), who marked his professional debut with two TKO victories, was selected for the Rising Star Award. In his debut bout on June 10, he scored a decisive victory over Wira Mikam (Thailand). His victory was highly praised, as he achieved it while attracting significant attention following his transition from amateur champion to professional.

藤木㊧は新鋭賞を受賞

The June Monthly Award Ceremony is scheduled to be held on July 16, together with the May ceremony.

安村を攻め落とした木村㊧

This match is part of the ongoing Phoenix Battle S Featherweight Prize Tournament and marks the quarterfinals. Originally, Kimura was scheduled to face Ryusuke Sunagawa (Okinawa WR), but due to Sunagawa’s withdrawal, he ended up facing reserve fighter Yasumura for a spot in the semifinals.
Right from the first round, southpaw Kimura landed a well-aimed left straight to score the first knockdown. With Yasumura returning to the ring for the first time in a year and a half, a quick finish was anticipated. However, Kimura did not press his advantage to finish the fight right away, and Yasumura hung in there, fighting in a rhythm that made it difficult for Kimura to control the pace.
Eventually, Kimura shifted to a strategy of steadily chipping away at his opponent. While his lefts were landing with high accuracy, he used body shots to both sides, countering short hooks, and uppercuts to corner Yasumura. Yasumura, while weathering Kimura’s attacks, gradually began to tire, and the number of times his gloves touched the canvas increased.
The first knockdown Kimura scored in the fifth round was a result of this; he pursued Yasumura as he got back to his feet, prompting Referee Kato to stop the fight. “Today, I focused too much on waiting to strike after the back-and-forth,” Kimura said in his post-fight reflection, but he was in high spirits after defeating a tough opponent by TKO in front of the home crowd. After the match, Kai Watanabe (Lions), his opponent in the tournament semifinals, climbed into the ring for a face-off. The two pledged to give their all. The other semifinal matchup will be Keisuke Matsumoto (Ohashi) versus Riku Kitani (KG Yamato).

トーナメント準決勝で対戦する渡邊㊨と対峙した木村

長谷川ジム移籍第１戦の決まった前王者の村田㊨

Murata, who had recorded 10 consecutive KO victories, suffered his first loss—a decision defeat—in his third title defense this past February. Seeking a fresh start, he transferred from his former gym, Teiken Gym, to KOBE Hasegawa Gym in March. A native of Iwade City, Wakayama Prefecture, Murata had been commuting to Seishin Gym in Kobe City in his father’s car since fifth grade, where he would watch world champion Chairman Hasegawa train. “I want to go back to my roots and start boxing all over again,” he said, resolving to train under Chairman Hasegawa, whom he had long admired. Leaving his wife and 8-month-old daughter behind in Iwade City, he moved to Kobe alone in July to embark on his path to the world stage in this new environment.
“Subaru-kun once stayed overnight at my house when he was in elementary school, and my wife even wrapped his bandages for him. I feel like there’s something fateful about this,” said Chairman Hasegawa. “In any case, I’m going to have him tackle the same training volume I did when I was a world champion. It’s going to be hellish training that pushes him to the very brink of overwork,” he said, emphasizing the “hell” aspect to Murata.
The bout will serve as the main event of “REAL SPIRITS VOL. 95,” hosted by Seijin Gym. The undercard will feature an eight-round bout between Takashi Inoue (Seijin), ranked No. 3 in Japan at light flyweight, and Yoshihiro Tai (RST), ranked No. 4 by the WBO-AP at super flyweight, among other matches.

プロテストを受験し、メディアの取材に応じる中山㊨と古城

Nakayama, a super bantamweight, is the eldest of the “Nakayama Brothers of Fukuoka” and has been a household name since his youth. He compiled a career record of 70 wins (30 KOs and 8 RSCs) and 8 losses while attending Higashi-Fukuoka High School and Komazawa University. He won the 2023 All-Japan Championship in the lightweight division. His youngest brother, Seiya, is affiliated with Ohashi Gym and is scheduled to make his professional debut on August 19. Meanwhile, the middle brother, Koichi (Komazawa University), is aiming for an Olympic gold medal, and Sota’s ambition is for all three brothers to become world champions.
His opponent in the practical exam was Riku Asai (2 wins, 2 KOs). Nakayama displayed a flawless exchange of blows while skillfully managing the distance. Standing 173 centimeters tall, Nakayama is a right-handed boxer-fighter, and his professional trainer is Senichi Tanaka.

シャドーを行う中山

Featherweight Furujo is a southpaw standing nearly 180 centimeters tall. He won three national titles (light welterweight and lightweight) while at Toyokuni Gakuen High School in Fukuoka, and after graduating, he moved to Tokyo to join the Teiken Gym. His amateur record stands at 45 wins (29 by KO or RSC) and 4 losses.
Although he fights in a southpaw boxer-style, he is also highly regarded for his natural punching power. On this day, he faced Katsuya Fukui, a Japanese super-bantamweight-ranked fighter, in his practical exam. Despite his tall stature, he demonstrated a keen awareness of mixing up his punches, targeting not only the face but also the lower body. As a professional, he is trained by Carlos Linares.

福井を相手に実技試験に臨んだ古城㊨

According to Jim, if both fighters pass their tests successfully, they plan to make their professional debuts around winter. While the two rising stars’ goal as professionals is, of course, to become “world champions,” they were strangely modest about how the tests went, with Nakayama saying, “I think I’ll be fine,” and Kojo adding, “I’ll probably be fine.”

While the announcement was made anticipation of current WBA regular champion Rodriguez’s next move, the situation is expected to be clarified prior to the Masuda-Higa contest. Teiken Promotions issued a document titled “Regarding the Background of the WBA Regular Championship Deciding Match between Riku Masuda and Daigo Higa” to explain the shifting status of the title. The promotional firm sought understanding for the announcement amidst the uncertainty, stating: “The WBA bantamweight title situation remains complicated due to unforeseen accidents, repeated injuries, and the involvement of Rodriguez, who possesses elite global drawing power. However, we anticipate that Rodriguez’s plans will be finalized before the 20 July fight date, allowing the title match to proceed under normalized conditions.”

増田㊧と比嘉の対決

The matchup itself between Masuda and Higa remains a highly compelling contest worthy of a world title stake. Sharing his assessment of his opponent, Masuda remarked that Higa appears optimistic on the surface but is a highly meticulous fighter, a factor he intends to account for in his preparation. Masuda enters the bout buoyed by the confidence of his decisive victory over Donaire in his previous outing. A victory would naturally set up a rematch with Tsutsumi, who currently holds the champion-in-recess status—a prospect that provides added incentive for Masuda, who previously suffered a defeat against Tsutsumi.

This bout marks Higa’s first return to the ring since his challenge against Vargas last year. It represents his fourth consecutive attempt at a bantamweight world title, following contests against Yoshiki Takei (Ohashi), Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi Jewel), and Vargas. Although draws and narrow defeats have prevented him from capturing a belt, his competitive performances have maintained his standing as an elite fighter. “I realized that boxing is my true calling after all, so I have returned. My apologies,” said Higa, who had initially intended to retire after the Vargas fight before reconsidering earlier this year. “Moving forward, I want to continue competing for as long as I am able to,” he declared.

Analyzing Masuda, Higa noted, “Everyone is aware of his left straight, which demands caution. He also utilizes his right lead effectively to set traps.” He added, “I believe it will be an entertaining fight on the night.”

Advance ticket sales for “U-NEXT BOXING 6” commenced today at 18:00 via Lawson Ticket. Ticket tiers are priced at 55,000 yen, 33,000 yen, 44,000 yen (two-person ringside box), 22,000 yen, and 11,000 yen.

Teraji was originally scheduled to challenge for the IBF title in Saudi Arabia last December, but the bout was cancelled after the champion at the time, Wilibaldo Garcia (Mexico), fell ill following the weigh-in. The opportunity comes six months after that setback.

The vacancy arose following Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’s (US) decision to vacate the title and move up to the bantamweight division. The 29-year-old Gonzalez enters the contest as a seasoned veteran with a record of 32-5-2 (12 KOs). Since making his professional debut in 2014 at the age of 17, Gonzalez has campaigned exclusively in this weight class. This will mark his fifth attempt at a world title, having previously fallen short against Jerwin Ancajas (Philippines), Khalid Yafai (UK), Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua), and Rodriguez. A resilient competitor noted for his aggressive body punching, Gonzalez previously secured a decision victory over Sho Ishida (Ioka) in Osaka in December 2019.

WBO王座で3階級制覇を狙う寺地

“At that time (when the Garcia bout was cancelled the day before), my mind went completely blank and it was genuinely difficult,” Teraji revealed. “However, I managed to switch my mindset surprisingly quickly and kept training with the determination to work hard until another opportunity came along.” During this period, he noted feeling that his physique has grown larger than before, expressing confidence by adding, “I feel I am better suited to the super-flyweight division now.”

Regarding his tactical assessment of the bout, Teraji stated, “My impression of Gonzalez is that his distance is a little far. It might take some time to close the gap, but I hope to gradually bring him into my own range.”

Advance ticket sales for “U-NEXT BOXING 6” commenced today at 18:00 via Lawson Ticket. Ticket tiers are priced at 55,000 yen, 33,000 yen, 44,000 yen (two-person ringside box), 22,000 yen, and 11,000 yen.

7.20両国に出場する左から岩田、増田、比嘉、寺地の各選手

The WBC Light Flyweight title bout marks the first title defense for new champion Shokichi Iwata (Teiken). Iwata will face mandatory challenger Eric Badillo from Mexico.
In March, Iwata defeated Thailand’s Knockout CP Freshmart by 8th-round TKO, securing his second title in this weight class following the WBO championship. He suffered almost no damage from the fight and returned to the gym just one week later. In late June, he held a running training camp in Narita, Chiba, and is currently engaged in sparring sessions to prepare for his bout against Badillo.
Badillo is a southpaw with a perfect 19-0 record, including 8 KOs. He throws a high volume of punches and, in his most recent bout, scored a convincing decision victory over former WBO champion Elwin Soto (Mexico).

グリーン＆ゴールドのベルトキープに意気込むチャンピオン岩田

“I resumed training right away because I was so focused on my next fight,” Iwata said, revealing his strong determination to successfully defend the title he was unable to secure in the WBO. “Many people probably think I’m in trouble facing Budillo, but this is exactly the kind of fight I’ve been hoping for. I want to prove my strength and win no matter what,” the champion declared emphatically.
Advance tickets for “U-NEXT BOXING 6” went on sale today at 6:00 p.m. via Lawson Ticket. Ticket prices are 55,000 yen, 33,000 yen, 44,000 yen (two seats in the same section), 22,000 yen, and 11,000 yen.

エジプトでの防衛戦勝利を報告した晝田

Hiruta competed in the “The Ring” event in Egypt, organized by Turki Al-Sheikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. This marked the first time a female boxer had been selected for the series. In a special ring set up in front of the Great Pyramids, Hiruta faced challenger Mai Soliman (Egypt/Australia) and secured a decisive points victory with a confident performance.
Hiruta (30), who is aiming to become a women’s superstar and has been competing primarily in California, is steadily moving toward her dream. Although she hasn’t fought in Japan since January 2024, she said that fighting in Egypt for the first time was “an experience I’ll never forget.”
One such experience was fighting amid swirling wind and sand, as well as the loud boos directed at her. Her corner warned her, “Don’t open your mouth under any circumstances,” so she couldn’t even smile. Although challenger Soliman’s current nationality is Australian, she was born in Cairo, so while Hiruta was prepared for an away fight, she was surprised by the intensity of the booing, which was far greater than she had anticipated. “Since it was an away fight, I knew I absolutely had to win decisively,” she said, reflecting on her state of mind at the time.
However, she secured an undisputed decision victory over Soliman. Several big names were watching from ringside, and she was deeply moved when one of them, Gennady Golovkin, praised her, saying, “You put on a great fight. How smart you are!”
Her next fight has not yet been decided, but she is eager for a unification bout against a champion from another organization. She has also frequently heard the name of Gabriela Hundra (USA), the popular women’s world champion in the flyweight division—one weight class below her own—and is aware of the anticipation surrounding a potential matchup. As her own profile gradually rises, Hiruta admitted that she feels “my mind hasn’t quite caught up yet.” “I wish I could fight with more confidence in myself,” she said.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***

Former WBC world lightweight champion Guts Ishimatsu (real name Yuji Suzuki), who later enjoyed a successful career as a television personality and actor following his retirement from boxing, passed away from pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo on 2 June. He was 76. His death was announced on 11 June by Guts Enterprise, the entertainment agency he founded and managed. A private funeral service has already been held by his close relatives.

日本人初の世界ライト級王者・ガッツ石松

Born in Awano Town, Kamitsuga District (now Kanuma City), Tochigi Prefecture, Ishimatsu moved to Tokyo after graduating from junior high school to join the Yonekura Gym, making his professional debut at the age of 17. Competing initially under his real name before altering his ring name to Ishimatsu Suzuki and eventually Guts Ishimatsu, his career breakthrough arrived in 1972. Entering as a late replacement, he defeated Shinichi Kadota to capture the OPBF lightweight title, a victory that opened the door to greater opportunities.

Although his first two world title attempts abroad—including a second challenge against Roberto Duran—proved unsuccessful, Ishimatsu faced reigning champion Rodolfo Gonzalez (Mexico) for the WBC world lightweight title at Tokyo’s Kuramae Kokugikan on 11 April 1974, amidst a nationwide transport strike. Dominating the veteran champion, Ishimatsu secured the title via an eighth-round knockout, finishing the bout with a punch he famously dubbed the “phantom right.”

With this victory, Ishimatsu became the first Japanese boxer to capture a world lightweight championship, a feat subsequently achieved only by Takanori Hatakeyama and Yusuke Kobori.

He successfully defended the WBC crown five times before losing a decision to Esteban de Jesus in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1976. He retired with a professional record of 51 bouts, 31 wins (17 KOs), 14 losses, and 6 draws.

During his tenure as regional champion, Ishimatsu was arrested after intervening in a brawl involving his brother, during which he reportedly knocked out eight individuals. While this incident fostered a public misconception that his boxing mirrored a street-fighting style, he was in reality a fundamentally sound boxer-puncher trained by the highly tactical former contender and gym president Kenji Yonekura. Anchored by a sharp left jab, his style relied on solid boxing orthodoxy. Alongside his senior stablemate Kuniaki Shibata, Ishimatsu spearheaded the golden era of the Yonekura Gym during the early 1970s.