Greatest Japanese Boxers?

Who are some of the great Japanese boxers? Its odd to me that a nation that has excelled in so many martial arts like Judo and Kickboxing haven't really produced many memorable boxers.

I know Takeshi Fuji and Shinji Takehara were both briefly world champions in their respective times, and both were known as real good punchers.

I know Royal Kobayashi and Hiroshi Kobayashi, but only as the guys who got destroyed by Gomez and Duran respectively.

So who are the greatest boxers produced by Japan? Who is #1?

Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer. The former WIBA Featherweight Champion on the World, Raika is considered one of the greatest Japanese female boxers of all time.---- from wikipedia

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Who are some of the great Japanese boxers? Its odd to me that a nation that has excelled in so many martial arts like Judo and Kickboxing haven't really produced many memorable boxers.

I know Takeshi Fuji and Shinji Takehara were both briefly world champions in their respective times, and both were known as real good punchers.

I know Royal Kobayashi and Hiroshi Kobayashi, but only as the guys who got destroyed by Gomez and Duran respectively.

So who are the greatest boxers produced by Japan? Who is #1?

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joichiro tatsuyoshi,By no means the greatest japanese fighter,,One Of The Bravest You Will......(should) See!

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Who are some of the great Japanese boxers? Its odd to me that a nation that has excelled in so many martial arts like Judo and Kickboxing haven't really produced many memorable boxers.

I know Takeshi Fuji and Shinji Takehara were both briefly world champions in their respective times, and both were known as real good punchers.

I know Royal Kobayashi and Hiroshi Kobayashi, but only as the guys who got destroyed by Gomez and Duran respectively.

So who are the greatest boxers produced by Japan? Who is #1?

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konichiwa. i don't know about japan's all time best but there's hiroyuki ebihara and fighting harada, Hiroshi Kobayashi and Yoshiaki Numata, all during the 60's era.

I have no idea who the best Jap boxer would be but I do know that they alllll show tremendous heart and they have quite a few skilled boxers. I mean even now we have Hasegawa and Kameda. Then those which you guys have mentioned too.

I don't think I'll ever forget the beating Guts Ishimatsu took from Roberto Duran and the crazy bastard kept getting back up!!

FIGHTING HARADA! 2 Wins against the great Eder Jofre and the only man to beat him, that's enough for me.

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Originally Posted by THE THIRD MAN

FIGHTING HARADA! 2 Wins against the great Eder Jofre and the only man to beat him, that's enough for me.

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i agree

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Originally Posted by Jeff Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Who are some of the great Japanese boxers? Its odd to me that a nation that has excelled in so many martial arts like Judo and Kickboxing haven't really produced many memorable boxers.

I know Takeshi Fuji and Shinji Takehara were both briefly world champions in their respective times, and both were known as real good punchers.

I know Royal Kobayashi and Hiroshi Kobayashi, but only as the guys who got destroyed by Gomez and Duran respectively.

So who are the greatest boxers produced by Japan? Who is #1?

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joichiro tatsuyoshi,By no means the greatest japanese fighter,,One Of The Bravest You Will......(should) See!

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Neither was Takeshi would I consider a great fighter. Watching his fight against Locche didn't show me anything special besides him being a determined fighter.

I haven't seen Harada fight but if he beat Jofre then my hat goes off to him.

The greatest Japanese boxer was Yoko Gushiken, a native of Okinawa - the land of karate (remember Mr. Miyagi of the Karate Kid). He became a Jr. Flyweight champ at around 20 and retained his title 13 consequitive times, which was, I think, an Asian record at that time, somewhere in the early 80's - a record which was broken later by Khaosay Galaxy (?) of Thailand. Unfortunately, on his 14th (or was it the 13th?) defense, the previously undefeated champ lost his title and never came to terms with that defeat, retiring for good at around 24 years of age, an age which most boxers haven't even reached their peak. What a waste of talent, just one defeat and he's totally devastated, ruining his career for good. ::** :-\ :'(

An awesome fight was Joichiro Tatsuyoshi vs Yasuei Yakushiji.

I don't really think there have been THAT MANY Japanese boxers out there that totally dominate their weight outside their own country.

FIGHTING HARADA
GUSHIKEN
WATANABI

End of discussion

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Originally Posted by Ted The Bull

FIGHTING HARADA
GUSHIKEN
WATANABI

End of discussion

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I remember Fighting Harada was a celebrity of sort in Japan. If popularity is the the guage for being a great fighter, then it'll be Harada, Gushiken, Wajima Koichi, and Guts Ishimatsu - they were all, to various degrees, celebrities in Japan. Guts Ishimatsu became a full-fledged comedian there, clowning around and showing off his badly disfigured face (so folks, beware that boxing doesn't only give you brain damage, it also messes up your pretty face ;D).

Fighting Harada, by a long way. He is an ATG

Edwin Valero ;D

Hiroki Ioka was a top straw weight and a good fighter but fighting haranda was the best

I don't think you can go past Fighting Harada. He was the Pac Man of his day. Before all the alphabest titles he was the flyweight and bantamweight champ (would have won super-bantam if it was around then) and nearly won the featherweight title against Johnny Famechon.

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Originally Posted by brucelee

Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer. The former WIBA Featherweight Champion on the World, Raika is considered one of the greatest Japanese female boxers of all time.---- from wikipedia

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Girls don't count.

cc boozeboxer

I dunno... Koki five years from now? with a sword?

I got nothing...

Sorry for bumping an old topic but Japan have "mass produced" world class boxers on and off since Yoshio Shirai. They sadly just don't get much respect in the West.

As others have said Harada was probably the best. Though others to think about (and at least give a mention to would be):
Hiroyuki Ebihara
Masao Oba
Kuniaki Shibata

Plenty of others have left their mark on the sport though.

Unfortunately a lot of Japanese fighters are totally ignored by the western boxing press which is one of the most shameful things in the sport.

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

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Originally Posted by brucelee

Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer. The former WIBA Featherweight Champion on the World, Raika is considered one of the greatest Japanese female boxers of all time.---- from wikipedia

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Girls don't count.

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lol yea man. I can't get into female boxing. Women belong in the kitchen.

Anyway there were so many great Japanese fighters i dont even wanna get into names but currently Im really digging SHinsuke Yamanaka, IOka, and the upcoming phenom Naoya Inoue..

Naoya Inoue is a future legend. He's the greatest talent ive seen since Floyd and Nonito...

Cool, I guess Japanese boxing went upwards since I made this thread 6 years ago! haha

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

Cool, I guess Japanese boxing went upwards since I made this thread 6 years ago! haha

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I'd say the awareness of it's grown more than anything else. Around 6 years ago Youtube was a small site and streaming was a major issue, now a days we can stream Japanese TV at will and watch any number of fights from youtube.

RE womens boxing, the Japanese females are fantastic (only the Argentinians are better at the moment). Miyao is cute as and Etsuko Tada is one mean fucker.

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Originally Posted by iamasadlittleboy

I'd say the awareness of it's grown more than anything else. Around 6 years ago Youtube was a small site and streaming was a major issue, now a days we can stream Japanese TV at will and watch any number of fights from youtube.

RE womens boxing, the Japanese females are fantastic (only the Argentinians are better at the moment). Miyao is cute as and Etsuko Tada is one mean fucker.

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In terms of female Japanese fighters, as an MMA fan I liked Smackgirl a lot and was a big fan of fighters like Hisae Watanabe and Satoko Shinashi... good to see boxing is going strong there too

Fighting Harada comes to mind first and foremost. And 2012 Gold Medalist Ryota Murata is turning pro so maybe Japan will have a future legend in the making.

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Originally Posted by pacfan

The greatest Japanese boxer was Yoko Gushiken, a native of Okinawa - the land of karate (remember Mr. Miyagi of the Karate Kid). He became a Jr. Flyweight champ at around 20 and retained his title 13 consequitive times, which was, I think, an Asian record at that time, somewhere in the early 80's - a record which was broken later by Khaosay Galaxy (?) of Thailand. Unfortunately, on his 14th (or was it the 13th?) defense, the previously undefeated champ lost his title and never came to terms with that defeat, retiring for good at around 24 years of age, an age which most boxers haven't even reached their peak. What a waste of talent, just one defeat and he's totally devastated, ruining his career for good. ::** :-\ :'(

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I'm happy to learn that Mr. Gushiken was awarded the HOF just recently and that Mr. Ted Sares (below) had been lobbying for him. He was our 'hometown' hero then. When I left Okinawa, he was just a journeyman. He became a champion few years after I started living here in the Philippines and I really wanted to see his fight but unfortunately his fights were not shown here so I was really frustrated then. I can watch them now but kinda too late I guess - the enthusiasm has all but gone.

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Originally Posted by tedsares

FIGHTING HARADA
GUSHIKEN
WATANABI

End of discussion

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Here is one of his more popular fights. You can see how good he was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK1LM6il6n8

~ Top Japanese Boxers ~

* Fighting Harada
* Yoko Gushiken
* Jiro Watanabe
* Masao Oba
* Koichi Wajima
* Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki
* Kuniaki Shibata
* Masashi Kudo
* Paul Fuji
* Shozo Saijo
* Hiroyuki Ebihara
* Hiroshi Kobayashi
* Shoji Oguma
* Yasutsune Uehara
* Akinobu Hiranaka
* Tadashi Mihara
* Lion Furuyama

has naoya taken over at number one? i'm going to do a top ten & post it in due course

Talk about "old" quite a bump ;D. Only my 4th day here with that post and a five part name FFS ;D. Miss some of these member's big time

Harada and Inoue are the only 2 that I can think of but I am sure there are more. From Bill Paxton list I have not heard of any of them.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Talk about "old" quite a bump ;D. Only my 4th day here with that post and a five part name FFS ;D. Miss some of these member's big time

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you'd thinking bumping old threads was a crime

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Originally Posted by Master

Harada and Inoue are the only 2 that I can think of but I am sure there are more. From Bill Paxton list I have not heard of any of them.

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bill's list has most of the names but some are too high for me, here's my top five, six to ten gets a bit trickier

naoya inoue
fighting harada
masao ohba
kazuto ioka
hiroyuki ebihara