A retirement ceremony for former Japanese and Asia-Pacific super lightweight and welterweight champion Keita Obara of Misako Boxing Gym was held on Feb. 13 before the main event at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.

  The 37-year-old Obara said after climbing through the ropes, ‘’Though I was not able to win a world title, I did what I had to do thanks to rooting of many people concerned. I am happy now. I learned a lot through boxing. I hope to create a boxing gym that can convey my experience and knowledge.’’

  Obara, a former amateur boxer, turned pro in 2010 after working for a company, became the Japanese super lightweight champion in 2013 and successfully defended the title twice.  He then won the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super welterweight crown in 2014 and retained the title twice.

  He challenged then International Boxing Federation super lightweight champion Eduard Troyanovsky of Russia for the latter title in 2016 in Moscow only to be stopped in the second round.

  After moving up to welterweight, Obara captured the World Boxing Organization’s Asia-Pacific title in 2017. But he unsuccessfully fought for the IBF world welterweight title elimination bout in 2019.

  Obara then captured the Japanese welterweight title in 2020 and successfully defended the title three times.

  After relinquishing the title, Obara challenged WBO’ Asia-Pacific welterweight champion Jin Sasaki of Hachioji Nakaya Boxing Gym for the latter’s title last April and was stopped in the third round, which proved to be Obara’s last fight. Obara had a total of 26 wins, including 23 KOs, against five losses and a draw.