Former Japanese and Orient Boxing Federation (the predecessor of the current Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) bantamweight champion Keiichi Komuro of Aoki Boxing Gym died on Dec. 16 last year, according to his bereaved family. He was 93.

  After a brief amateur career in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Komuro turned pro in 1951 from Aoki gym in Tokyo, Komuro won his first 10 bouts in a row. While Komuro lost in his first crack at the Japanese bantamweight title against Hiroshi Horiguchi of Fuji Boxing Gym in January 1954, he captured the then vacant title by decisioning Tamio Sasaki of Noguchi Boxing Gym in September that year.

  Komuro fought six times in 1955, all Japanese and OBF championship fights. He became the OBF bantamweight champion in December that year by beating Tahiland’s Sanong Rorsorpor, better known as Sanong ETB, by Sanong’s disqualification (technical knockout) in the sixth round.

  Komuro lost the title in March 1956 with a 12-round decision loss to Leo Espinosa of the Philippines. His last fight came in August that year as he suffered a knockout loss to Sanong.

  After the retirement, Komuro opened a sushi shop called ‘’Keichan Zushi’’ in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward. The late OBF flyweight champion Sadao Yaoita and other boxers who were fighting in the same era frequented the shop.

  He became ill last September and was hospitalized. He died in his sleep, according to the family sources.