Former amateur star Taiga Imanaga will turn professional from Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, the 22-year-old southpaw said at a press conference held at the gym on March 15.
Imanaga, who has just graduated from Tokyo’s Toyo University, said, ‘’I chose the Ohashi gym because I think this is the best gym for me to become stronger. Since I have not yet fought a bout as a professional, I hope to win a fight one by one and aim at challenging a world title if such an occasion comes.’’
He is expected to take a class B license test for a professional in late April with his first fight expected around June.
Imanaga, who is 177-cm tall, captured a record number of eight major amateur titles at a high school in Nara Prefecture, western Japan. He has a total amateur record of 113 wins, including 23 RSCs, against 13 losses.
Ohashi said, ‘’He is fit to a professional boxer. While lightweight is a division of deep talent, I am convinced that he can aim at a world title.’’
