Retired former Japanese, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific lightweight champion Nihito Arakawa will shortly open a fitness and boxing gym called ‘’Japanese Rocky’’ in Tokyo’s Fuchu, it was learned on March 30th.

The main purpose of the gym, to be officially opened on May 2, is to solve the problem of lack of exercise on the part of general public, according to the 39-year-old Arakawa, who hung up his gloves in 2019.

Arakawa, known as ‘’the Japanese Rocky’’ when he had a fierce battle with Omar Figueroa Jr. of the United States for his unsuccessful World Boxing Council interim lightweight title match in July 2013 in San Antonio, Texas, said he will not join Japan Pro Boxing Association, adding, ‘’I hope the gym will serve as a place for people suffering from insufficient exercise and hope they will learn the body movement through boxing exercise.’’

The gym is open to public in March and April as a campaign period without charging enrollment fee.