Katsunari Takayama

Katsunari Takayama
Statistics
Real name Katsunari Takayama
Nickname(s) Lightning Kid[1]
Rated at Minimumweight
Nationality Japanese
Born May 12, 1983
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 37
Wins 29
Wins by KO 11
Losses 7
Draws 0
No contests 1

Katsunari Takayama (高山 勝成 Takayama Katsunari, born May 12, 1983 in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is the current IBF Minimumweight champion, as well as a former WBA Minimumweight interim champion, a former WBC Minimumweight champion and a former WBO Minimumweight champion. While Takayama has gone through five gyms,[1][2] his Japanese trainer for his entire career is Hiroaki Nakade[1][3] who has so far served as the second/trainer in the world title bouts of all the four major sanctioning bodies i.e. the WBA, WBC, IBF (for Takayama fights) and WBO (for Orlando Salido vs. Yamaguchi).[4]

Biography and career

In Japan

Takayama weighed about 60 kg at the age of twelve. He started playing rugby and athletics, but did not last long. It was in summer in the second grade of junior high school that his friend brought him to a boxing gym. When he got started on the punching bag, despite he said he is going to be a world champion, he could not do more than three push-ups in a row. Even after his own workout, he had been watching senior boxers' sparring sessions and trainees' training without getting bored at the entrance of the gym. Takayama made his professional debut in October 2000 and won the All-Japan Rookie King Tournament in December 2001.[1]

WBC title

On April 4, 2005 Takayama defeated Isaac Bustos for the WBC world title, by a unanimous decision. This victory gave Takayama the distinction of being the 50th Japanese fighter to win a world title. However, he lost a next bout against Eagle Kyowa by a unanimous decision, on August 6, 2005.

Interim WBA title

On November 7, 2006 he defeated Carlos Melo for the WBA interim title when he was originally supposed to face Yutaka Niida for the WBA title in September. However, due to a costal cartilage fracture[5] Niida sustained from sparring, the fight would be delayed to April 7, 2007 ending in a split decision loss. After the fight, his then manager rejected the decision and uttered that it was a match fixing and that he would make civil litigation. However, he visited the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) two days later and apologized for his rant saying that he had just wanted to pat his boxer on the back.[6] Furthermore, most of the purse for that fight had not been paid. Although Takayama and Nakade announced that they would transfer to any other gym, the matters on the match fee and transfer fee were not resolved over months.[2]

Takayama got another world title shot on July 14, 2009. This time, it was for the WBA minimumweight title which is held by Roman Gonzalez. Unsuccessfully, Takayama lost on all judges. He retired as a JBC-licenced boxer to fight for the WBO and IBF's titles in late 2009.[7] At that time the JBC had approved no fight for the WBO and IBF's titles, but conditionally allowed them from February 28, 2011.[8] That is because the West Japan Boxing Association to which Takayama and Ken'ichi Yamaguchi belonged strongly urged reform of the system after they issued retirement notices.[7][9]

Away from Japan

Takayama then trained at his fellow boxer Ken'ichi Yamaguchi's Osaka Tenjin Boxing Gym in Japan[7] and ALA Boxing Gym in the Philippines,[10] and was promoted by ALA Promotions since April 2010.[11]

He won an IBF minimumweight title eliminator via a sixth round technical knockout at the Carnival City in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa in September 2010.[12] He challenged Nkosinathi Joyi for that title at the Carnival City on January 29, 2011 after being postponed twice,[13] but the fight ended in a no-contest due to a cut on Takayama's head after an accidental head-butt in the third round.[14] He had a broken right hand since just before the fight.[7]

Takayama rematched Joyi at the Orient Theatre in East London, Eastern Cape after postponed four times[7] on March 30, 2012. It was the SABC-televised second boxing event after one year interruption.[15] According to Japanese sources, Takayama reportedly dominated the whole fight except that he went down resulting from a slip in the fifth round,[16] and stated with increased confidence through the twelve rounds that "I fought as was planned and did my best"[17][18] after a unanimous decision loss with scores of 111–116 twice and 110–117.[19] A boxing writer for South Africa's SuperSport wrote that "Many ringsiders were of the opinion that the decision could have gone in favour of the challenger" on Fightnews.com[20] which was presented the WBA’s Website of the Year in 2010.[21] In addition, there were several articles showing that Joyi had struggled against Takayama.[20] However the IBF's Lindsey Tucker has denied their views on BoxingScene.com.[22]

He fought against Filipino Mateo Handig for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific mini flyweight title and the mandatory challenger status to the IBF mini flyweight title in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines on October 13, 2012. But he lost the fight via a split decision after being deducted a point in the fourth round for pushing. Two Filipino judges scored the fight 114–113 for Handig, while the other Thai judge scored it 115–112 for Takayama.[23][24] The IBF ordered a rematch due to the inadequacy of the mandatory drug testing before and after the fight.[25] After Handig's injury, Takayama earned the right to challenge for the world title.[26]

IBF title

Takayama defeated Mario Rodríguez via a unanimous decision with the scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 115–113 to be crowned the IBF mini flyweight world champion at the Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 30, 2013.[27] He was the first foreign boxer for ALA Promotions, and became the third ever world champion for them.[28] "I'm gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," Takayama had told at the pre-fight conference.[Video 1] He tried to imitate the Ali shuffle during the fight.[Video 2]

Triumphant return to Japan

The JBC joined the WBO and the IBF on April 1, 2013.[29] After more than four years' absence from the ring in Japan, Takayama's boxer's license was issued again by the JBC on July 12, 2013. He registered with Nakazato Boxing Gym[30] to defend his title against Vergilio Silvano via a unanimous decision at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 3, 2013.[31]

Professional boxing record

29 Wins (11 Knockouts, 18 Decisions), 7 Defeats (1 Knockout, 6 Decisions), 0 Draws, 1 No Contest
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-7-(1) Thailand Fahlan Sakkreerin, Jr. TD 9 (12) 2015-04-22 Japan Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka Retained IBF Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-7-(1) Japan Go Odaira TKO 7 (12) 2014-12-31 Japan Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka Won vacant IBF and vacant WBO Minimumweight titles.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 27-7-(1) Mexico Francisco Rodríguez, Jr. UD 12 2014-08-09 Mexico Monterrey Arena, Monterrey, Nuevo León Lost IBF Minimumweight title.
For WBO Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-6-(1) Japan Shin Ono UD 12 2014-05-07 Japan Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka Retained IBF Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-6-(1) Philippines Vergilio Silvano UD 12 2013-12-03 Japan Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka Retained IBF Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-6-(1) Mexico Mario Rodríguez UD 12 2013-03-30 Mexico Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón, Guasave, Sinaloa Won IBF Minimumweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 24-6-(1) Philippines Mateo Handig SD 12 2012-10-13 Philippines La Trinidad Municipal Gymnasium, La Trinidad, Benguet For vacant IBF Pan Pacific Minimumweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 24-5-(1) South Africa Nkosinathi Joyi UD 12 2012-03-30 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, Eastern Cape For IBF Minimumweight title.
NC 24-4-(1) South Africa Nkosinathi Joyi NC 3 (12) 2011-01-29 South Africa Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng For IBF Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24-4 South Africa Tshepo Lefele TKO 6 (12) 2010-09-01 South Africa Carnival City, Brakpan, Gauteng IBF Minimumweight title eliminator.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 23-4 Nicaragua Román González UD 12 2009-07-14 Japan World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Hyogo For WBA Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-3 Philippines Roemart Sentillas UD 8 2009-03-12 Japan World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Hyogo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22-3 Mexico Javier Murillo UD 10 2008-09-22 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-3 Philippines Mating Kilakil KO 9 (10) 2008-04-28 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-3 Thailand Ngaoprajan Chuwatana TKO 9 (10) 2008-01-05 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-3 Philippines Fabio Marfa UD 10 2007-10-06 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 18-3 Japan Yutaka Niida SD 12 2007-04-07 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo For WBA Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-2 Panama Carlos Melo TD 9 (12) 2006-11-07 Japan Grand Cube, Osaka Won interim WBA Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-2 Japan Satoshi Kogumazaka TD 9 (10) 2006-03-18 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Won Japanese Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-2 Philippines Rollen Del Castillo TD 8 (10) 2005-12-03 Japan Central Hall, Osaka
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15-2 Thailand Eagle Den Junlaphan UD 12 2005-08-06 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Lost WBC Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-1 Mexico Isaac Bustos UD 12 2005-04-04 Japan Central Gym, Osaka Won WBC Minimumweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-1 Thailand Numchai Taksinisan KO 3 (10) 2004-12-08 Japan Central Hall, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13-1 Philippines Elmer Gejon MD 10 2004-08-07 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-1 Japan Kosuke Fujiwara UD 10 2004-02-15 Japan Central Gym, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-1 Thailand Saming Twingym TKO 3 (8) 2003-12-21 Japan Central Gym, Osaka
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 10-1 Japan Masato Hatakeyama TKO 9 (10) 2003-04-21 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo For Japanese Light Flyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-0 Thailand Songkram Porpaoin MD 8 2002-10-14 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-0 Japan Takashi Okajima TKO 8 (10) 2002-07-13 Japan Central Gym, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-0 Japan Daisaku Kashiwagi TKO 4 (8) 2002-05-05 Japan Central Gym, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-0 Japan Koyo Yamazaki UD 6 2001-12-15 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-0 Japan Yoshifumi Nishimura TKO 2 (6) 2001-11-18 Japan Spark Chikujo, Chikujō, Fukuoka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-0 Japan Daigoro Omagari UD 6 2001-10-13 Japan City Hall, Nagoya, Aichi
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-0 Japan Hiroaki Kusunoki MD 6 2001-09-13 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-0 Japan Taiki Tatsuiwa KO 2 (4) 2001-07-22 Japan Mizuno Sports, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0 Japan Takashi Kunishige UD 4 2001-04-28 Japan Azalea Taisho, Osaka
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0 Japan Yozo Nakamura TKO 4 (4) 2000-10-18 Japan Archaic Hall, Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan Professional Debut.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mitsuru Jōjima (April 15, 2005). 高山勝成 - 不変純粋で頂点 (in Japanese). Sankei Digital Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Asazawa & Shibuya 2007, p. 61
  3. ↑ Anson Wainwright (June 29, 2010). "Q & A with Katsunari Takayama". 15rounds.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  4. ↑ Boxing Beat editorial department (July 24, 2011). "山口11回TKO負け　WBOフェザー級戦＝詳報" (in Japanese). MACC Publications Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  5. ↑ Asazawa & Shibuya 2007, p. 21
  6. ↑ 高山勝成陣営、強硬姿勢から一転謝罪 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. April 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Fitness Sports 2012, p. 78.
  8. ↑ 委員長会議報告書 (in Japanese). Japan Boxing Commission. March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  9. ↑ "WBOとIBFへの加盟申し入れ". Daily Sports. October 15, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  10. ↑ Salven Lagumbay, Rene Bonsubre Jr. (Cebu Daily News) (April 29, 2010). "Japanese ex-world champ trains at ALA gym". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  11. ↑ Salven Lagumbay (Cebu Daily News) (April 29, 2010). "Aldeguer: After 25 years ALA Promotions set to go global". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  12. ↑ Rene Bonsubre Jr. (Cebu Daily News) (September 3, 2010). "Takayama stops Lefele in 6th round of their IBF eliminator". Inquirer.net. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  13. ↑ "2度延期もプラス…高山、南アへ「KOで倒したい」". Sports Nippon. January 24, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  14. ↑ Chris LaBate (January 29, 2011). "Joyi-Takayama a No-Contest, Mendez Decisions Baloyi". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  15. ↑ Corey Erdman (March 29, 2012). "Joyi finally getting TV time against Takayama". RingTV. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  16. ↑ "高山、敵地で0–3判定負け…IBF世界ミニマム級" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi (Osaka Edition). April 1, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ 高山勝成、新王者ならず…地元判定に泣く (in Japanese). Daily Sports. March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  18. ↑ Kyodo News (March 31, 2012). "高山、判定で敗れる　IBFミニマム級" (in Japanese). Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  19. ↑ Alexey Sukachev (March 30, 2012). "Nkosinathi Joyi Decisions Katsunari Takayama To Retain". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Ron Jackson (March 31, 2012). "Joyi retains IBF minimumweight belt". Fightnews.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  21. ↑ Boxing Bob Newman (November 24, 2010). "WBA 2010 Awards Banquet". Fightnews.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ Ronnie Nathanielsz (April 2, 2012). "IBF Responds To Allegations of Takayama Being Robbed". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  23. ↑ Edri K. Aznar (October 15, 2012). "Handig pulls off stunning upset over Takayama". Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  24. ↑ Chito Yu Katangkatang (October 13, 2012). "Handig Singwangcha decisions Takayama". Fightnews.com. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  25. ↑ Roderick Osis (January 19, 2012). "IBF orders Handig–Takayama rematch". Sun.Star. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  26. ↑ "高山のタイトル戦決定＝3度目の挑戦、メキシコで－IBFミニマム級". Jiji Press. February 21, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Japonés Takayama vence a mexicano Rodríguez y es nuevo campeón mundial paja de la FIB". Terra Chile. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  28. ↑ Edri K. Aznar (April 2, 2013). "Takayama gives ALA third world title". Sun.Star Cebu. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  29. ↑ Joe Koizumi (March 22, 2013). "Japan joins IBF". Fightnews.com. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "IBF王者高山にJBCライセンス再発行" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  31. ↑ Jake Donovan (December 3, 2013). "Takayama Dominates Silvano; Zhao Zhong Unifier Next?". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.

Video references

  1. ↑ IBFミニフライ級記者会見 (YouTube video) (in Spanish/Japanese). Osaka Tenjin Gym. March 27, 2013. Event occurs at 4:24. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ Despojan del título al Dragoncito Rodríguez (in Spanish). TelevisaDeportes.com. November 28, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2013.

Bibliography

  • Asazawa, Ei; Shibuya, Jun (September 10, 2007). 移籍騒動の高山、問題収束せぬまま10月に再起", "新井田豊、因縁の再戦に完勝. Boxing Magazine (in Japanese) (Tokyo, Japan: Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd) (October 2007 issue): pp. 21, 61.
  • Boxing Beat editorial department (February 15, 2012). MACC Publications Inc, ed. インタビュー　高山勝成. Ironman. Boxing Beat (in Japanese) (Tokyo, Japan: Fitness Sports Co., Ltd.) (special issue): p. 78.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Isaac Bustos		 WBC Strawweight Champion
April 4, 2005 – August 6, 2005 		Succeeded by
Eagle Kyowa
Vacant
Title last held by
Juan Jose Landaeta		 WBA Minimumweight Champion
Interim Title
November 7, 2006 – April 7, 2007
Title unified by Yutaka Niida 		Vacant
Title next held by
Sammy Gutiérrez
Preceded by
Mario Rodríguez		 IBF Mini Flyweight Champion
March 30, 2013 – August 9, 2014 		Succeeded by
Francisco Rodríguez, Jr.
Vacant
Title last held by
Francisco Rodríguez, Jr.		 IBF Mini Flyweight Champion
December 31, 2014 – present 		Incumbent
WBO Mini Flyweight Champion
December 31, 2014 – March 2, 2015
Vacated 		Vacant