Kosei Tanaka
Kosei Tanaka (田中 恒成, Tanaka Kōsei, born June 15, 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a three-weight world champion, having held the WBO flyweight title since 2018. He previously held the WBO minimumweight title from 2015 to 2016, and the WBO junior-flyweight title from 2016 to 2017. Upon winning his first world title in only his fifth bout, he became the fastest Japanese fighter ever to become a world champion. Along with Vasyl Lomachenko, he is also the fastest ever fighter to win titles in three weight-classes, having accomplished the feat in only 12 bouts.
Kosei Tanaka | |
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Statistics | |
Real name | 田中恒成 |
Nickname(s) | Chukyo no Kaibutu (中京の怪物) "Monster of Chukyo"
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Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 4 1⁄2 in (164 cm) |
Reach | 63 1⁄2 in (161 cm) |
Nationality | Japanese |
Born | Tajimi, Gifu, Japan | June 15, 1995
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 15 |
Wins | 15 |
Wins by KO | 9 |
Losses | 0 |
As of November 2019, Tanaka is ranked as the world's best active flyweight by The Ring magazine, BoxRec and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.
Career
As a child, Tanaka suffered from Legg–Calvé–Perthe disease. Despite this, he took up boxing and won four national tournaments competing as an amateur in the light flyweight division. At the continental and international level he was a quarter-finalist at the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships and a silver medalist at the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships.
Minimumweight
Tanaka turned pro at the age of 18 in 2013. In November 2014, Tanaka defeated previously unbeaten Ryuji Hara by round 10 TKO to win the OPBF minimumweight title. In his next fight, Tanaka decisioned Julian Yedras (117-111, 117-111, 115-113) to win the WBO minimumweight title.[1] Tanaka holds the Japanese record for winning a world title in the fewest fights (five), surpassing the previous record held by Naoya Inoue of six fights.[2] Tanaka's only title defense at minimumweight came against Vic Saludar, whom he knocked out in round six after a left hook to the body. Saludar knocked down Tanaka in round six, and was ahead on all scorecards prior to the stoppage.[3]
Junior-flyweight
In December 2016, Tanaka challenged former minimumweight title holder Moisés Fuentes for the WBO junior-flyweight title. Tanaka dominated Fuentes, dropping him in round five before referee Raul Caiz Jr stopped the fight, giving Tanaka a TKO victory. With the win, Tanaka became a two-weight world champion in just eight fights.[4] Tanaka's first defense came against prospect Ángel Acosta. The former won a wide unanimous decision (117-110, 117-110, 116-111) and dropped Acosta once. Acosta had won all 16 of his previous fights by knockout.[5]
Tanaka's second defense took place in September 2017 against little-known fighter Palangpol CP Freshmart. Tanaka was a huge favorite going into the fight, but Palangpol would prove to be Tanaka's toughest challenger so far, dropping the defending champion once in the first round and trading back-and-forth combinations for the rest of the bout. After a thrilling fight, Tanaka would finally gain the upper hand in round 9, as he knocked down Palangpol and continued to land big combinations as the challenger struggled to connect. Eventually, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:52 in round 9.[6][7][8]
Tanaka had previously sought a unification bout against WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi in December,[9] but his injuries during the fight against Palangpol would prevent him from fighting on that date.[10]
Flyweight
In December 2017, Tanaka vacated his junior-flyweight title to move to the flyweight division.[11] In September 2018, Tanaka defeated Sho Kimura to equal Vasyl Lomachenko's record of becoming a three-weight world champion in just 12 fights.
Personal life
Tanaka balanced professional boxing with school and in 2019 graduated with a degree in economics from Chukyo University. [12] He is the cousin of Japanese figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and younger brother of amateur fighter Ryomei Tanaka.
Professional boxing record
15 fights | 15 wins | 0 losses |
By knockout | 9 | 0 |
By decision | 6 | 0 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | Win | 15–0 | KO | 3 (12), 2:29 | 31 Dec 2019 | Retained WBO flyweight title | ||
14 | Win | 14–0 | TKO | 7 (12), 2:49 | 24 Aug 2019 | Retained WBO flyweight title | ||
13 | Win | 13–0 | UD | 12 | 16 Mar 2019 | Retained WBO flyweight title | ||
12 | Win | 12–0 | MD | 12 | 24 Sep 2018 | Won WBO flyweight title | ||
12 | Win | 11–0 | TKO | 9 (10), 2:26 | 31 Mar 2018 | |||
10 | Win | 10–0 | TKO | 9 (12), 1:29 | 13 Sep 2017 | Retained WBO junior-flyweight title | ||
9 | Win | 9–0 | UD | 12 | 20 May 2017 | Retained WBO junior-flyweight title | ||
8 | Win | 8–0 | TKO | 5 (12), 1:52 | 31 Dec 2016 | Won vacant WBO junior-flyweight title | ||
7 | Win | 7–0 | KO | 6 (10), 2:23 | 28 May 2016 | |||
6 | Win | 6–0 | KO | 6 (12), 2:15 | 31 Dec 2015 | Retained WBO minimumweight title | ||
5 | Win | 5–0 | UD | 12 | 30 May 2015 | Won vacant WBO minimumweight title | ||
4 | Win | 4–0 | TKO | 10 (12), 0:50 | 30 Oct 2014 | Won OPBF minimumweight title | ||
3 | Win | 3–0 | KO | 1 (10), 1:55 | 20 Jul 2014 | |||
2 | Win | 2–0 | UD | 8 | 16 Mar 2014 | |||
1 | Win | 1–0 | UD | 6 | 10 Nov 2013 | |||
See also
- List of boxing triple champions
- List of WBO world champions
- List of minimumweight boxing champions
- List of light flyweight boxing champions
- List of flyweight boxing champions
- List of Japanese boxing world champions
- Boxing in Japan
References
- http://www.asianboxing.info/kosei-tanaka.html
- Salazar, Victor (June 1, 2015). "19-year-old unbeaten Japanese, Kosei Tanaka Wins WBO Title". Tha Boxing Voice. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- http://www.boxingscene.com/kosei-tanaka-climbs-off-canvas-stop-vic-saludar-six--99909
- http://www.boxingscene.com/tanaka-blasts-fuentes-becomes-two-division-champ-8-fights-results--112239
- http://www.boxingscene.com/kosei-tanaka-drops-decisions-angel-acosta-retain-results--116767
- https://www.badlefthook.com/2017/9/13/16303222/ryosuke-iwasa-stops-yukinori-oguni-kosei-tanaka-retains-despite-knockdown
- https://www.ringtv.com/516784-tanaka-climbs-off-deck-stop-chayanram-iwasa-wins-junior-feather-belt/
- http://www.asianboxing.info/world-title-results/kosei-tanaka-dropped-cut-and-damaged-but-guts-out-thrilling-win
- http://www.asianboxing.info/world-title-results/taguchi-dominates-barrera-moves-towards-unification-with-kosei-tanaka
- http://www.asianboxing.info/asian-news/kosei-tanaka-suffers-suspected-orbital-fracture-no-brain-injury-suspected
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/01/more-sports/boxing-2/wbo-light-flyweight-champ-kosei-tanaka-relinquishes-title-eyes-flyweight-crown-source/
- https://twitter.com/KOsei530/status/1107904058122067968
External links
Sporting positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Regional boxing titles | ||||
Preceded by Ryuji Hara |
OPBF minimumweight champion 30 Oct 2014 – 30 May 2015 Won WBO world title |
Vacant Title next held by Xiong Chaozhong | ||
World boxing titles | ||||
Vacant Title last held by Katsunari Takayama |
WBO minimumweight champion 30 May 2015 – 12 Apr 2016 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Katsunari Takayama | ||
Vacant Title last held by Donnie Nietes |
WBO junior-flyweight champion 31 Dec 2016 – 1 Dec 2017 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Ángel Acosta | ||
Preceded by Sho Kimura |
WBO flyweight champion 24 Sep 2018 – present |
Incumbent | ||
Records | ||||
Preceded by Naoya Inoue 6 fights |
Fastest Japanese fighter to win a world title 5 fights May 30, 2015 – present |
Incumbent | ||
Preceded by Vasyl Lomachenko tied on 12 fights |
Three-weight world champion after least professional fights 12 fights September 24, 2018 – present |
Incumbent |