Kyotaro Fujimoto

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Fujimoto".
Kyōtarō
京太郎
Born Fujimoto Kyōtarō
[ɸu͍dʑimoto kjoːtaɽoː]
藤本 京太郎
June 23, 1986
Osaka, Japan
Native name 京太郎
Nationality Japan Japanese
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 102 kg (225 lb; 16.1 st)
Division Heavyweight
Style Karate, Kickboxing, Boxing
Fighting out of Machida, Tokyo, Japan
Team Team Dragon
Trainer Kensaku Maeda
Years active 5 (2006–2011) (kickboxing)
3 (2011-present) (boxing)
Professional boxing record
Total 12
Wins 11
By knockout 6
Losses 1
By knockout 1
Kickboxing record
Total 23
Wins 18
By knockout 9
Losses 5
Other information
Boxing record from Boxrec
last updated on: December 31, 2011

Kyotaro (京太郎 [kjoːtaɽoː] Kyōtarō, born 23 June 1986) is a Japanese heavyweight boxer and former kickboxer. His real name is Kyotaro Fujimoto, and he had been using 3 other ring names before. He is known for his right hook which has knocked out many of his opponents. He is currently the K-1 Heavyweight Champion and has successfully defended the title against Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. He was also the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka tournament finalist and K-1 Young Japan GP 2007 champion.[1]

Early life

He was born in Osaka, Japan on June 23, 1986. He started learning karate of Uomoto-ryū(魚本流) as a child. His parents divorced in 1997 and he lives with his mother, sisters and grandmother.

Kickboxing career

He moved to Tokyo and joined Dragon Dojo established by Kensaku Maeda. He debuted on May 17, 2006 against Junichi Hanada.

Kyotaro entered the world of K-1 when he fought and won the K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival tournament in Tokyo by defeating Tatsunori Momose in the semi-final and Takumi Sato in the final, all by decision. This tournament was designed to showcase new talent. He then fought Kyoung Suk Kim during the opening fights at K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 defeating Kim by 2nd Round Knockout. He further proved himself as a top K-1 contender by defeating the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II and the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii tournament champion Mighty Mo at K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama. Kyotaro was then invited to fight in the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka in which he became the runner up losing to Brazilian Karateka Ewerton Teixeira.

On March 28, 2009, Kyotaro won the K-1 Heavyweight (-100 kg) Title tournament by knocking out Melvin Manhoef in semifinals and beating Gokhan Saki in finals by extra round majority decision. Kyotaro became the second fighter after Badr Hari to win the title in K-1 Light Heavyweight division.[2] Kyotaro recently defended his title against 3 time K-1 Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. Kyotaro knocked Aerts down twice at the end of the 1st Round and then knocked him out with his right hook in the 2nd Round.

At the K-1 Final 16 Kyotaro defeated another legend in Jerome Le Banner. Kyotaro withstood the frenchman's early power to give him a severe beating in the 3rd round to earn a draw. Le Banner was angry at the decision and walked out of the ring, giving Kyotaro the win by DQ.

His next fight was at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final against 4-time defending champion Semmy Schilt. He was unable to faze his taller opponent, losing by unanimous decision.

He then chose to fight the DREAM (MMA) Light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. He was knocked down in the second round and again lost by unanimous decision.

In October 2011, Kyotaro relinquished the K-1 Heavyweight title in order to pursue a career in professional boxing.[3]

Boxing career

Kyotaro debuted as a pro boxer on December 31, 2011 when he took a unanimous decision win over Michael O'Donnell in Osaka, Japan. In September 2012, he defeated Chauncy Welliver by unanimous decision, who at the time was ranked #15 in the world by the WBC. Kyotaro took Welliver's place in the WBC top 15 as a result of this win. Kyotaro lost his next fight against Solomon Haumono via TKO in the 5th round. The fight was held at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 31, 2012.

Titles

Awards

Ring names

Kickboxing record

Professional kickboxing record

Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

Amateur kickboxing record

Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

Boxing record

Professional boxing record

Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kyotaro Fujimoto.

References