Kosei Tanaka

Kosei Tanaka (田中 恒成, Tanaka Kōsei, born 15 June 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a three-weight world champion, having held the WBO flyweight title since 2018; the WBO mini-flyweight 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
Statistics
Real name田中恒成
Nickname(s)
Chukyo no Kaibutu (中京の怪物) "Monster of Chukyo"
  • Dream Boy
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 4 12 in (164 cm)
Reach63 12 in (161 cm)
NationalityJapanese
Born (1995-06-15) 15 June 1995
Tajimi, Gifu, Japan
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights15
Wins15
Wins by KO9
Losses0

As of July 2020, he is ranked as the world's best active flyweight by The Ring magazine,[1] BoxRec[2] and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.[3]

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 junior-flyweight division. At the continental and international level he was a quarter-finalist at the 2012 Youth World Championships and a silver medalist at the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships.

Mini-flyweight

Tanaka turned pro at the age of 18 in 2013. In November 2014, Tanaka defeated previously unbeaten Ryuji Hara via tenth-round technical knockout (TKO) to win the OPBF mini-flyweight title. In his next fight, Tanaka decisioned Julian Yedras (117–111, 117–111, 115–113) to win the WBO mini-flyweight title.[4] 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.[5] Tanaka's only title defense at mini-flyweight 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.[6]

Junior-flyweight

In December 2016, Tanaka challenged former mini-flyweight 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.[7] Tanaka's first defense came against prospect Ángel Acosta. The former won a wide unanimous decision (UD) (117–110, 117–110, 116–111) and dropped Acosta once. Acosta had won all 16 of his previous fights by knockout.[8]

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 nine, 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 nine.[9][10][11]

Tanaka had previously sought a unification bout against WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi in December,[12] but injuries during the fight against Palangpol would prevent him from fighting on that date.[13]

Flyweight

In December 2017, Tanaka vacated his junior-flyweight title to move to the flyweight division.[14] In September 2018, Tanaka defeated Sho Kimura to capture the WBO flyweight title, equalling 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. [15] He is the cousin of Japanese figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and younger brother of amateur fighter Ryomei Tanaka.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
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 Wulan Tuolehazi KO 3 (12), 2:29 31 Dec 2019 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
14 Win 14–0 Jonathan González TKO 7 (12), 2:49 24 Aug 2019 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Ryoichi Taguchi UD 12 16 Mar 2019 Memorial Center, Gifu, Japan Retained WBO flyweight title
12 Win 12–0 Sho Kimura MD 12 24 Sep 2018 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Won WBO flyweight title
12 Win 11–0 Ronnie Baldonado TKO 9 (10), 2:26 31 Mar 2018 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
10 Win 10–0 Palangpol CP Freshmart TKO 9 (12), 1:29 13 Sep 2017 Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan Retained WBO junior-flyweight title
9 Win 9–0 Ángel Acosta UD 12 20 May 2017 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO junior-flyweight title
8 Win 8–0 Moisés Fuentes TKO 5 (12), 1:52 31 Dec 2016 Memorial Center, Gifu, Japan Won vacant WBO junior-flyweight title
7 Win 7–0 Rene Patilano KO 6 (10), 2:23 28 May 2016 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
6 Win 6–0 Vic Saludar KO 6 (12), 2:15 31 Dec 2015 Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Japan Retained WBO mini-flyweight title
5 Win 5–0 Julian Yedras UD 12 30 May 2015 Park Arena, Komaki, Japan Won vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
4 Win 4–0 Ryuji Hara TKO 10 (12), 0:50 30 Oct 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won OPBF mini-flyweight title
3 Win 3–0 Crison Omayao KO 1 (10), 1:55 20 Jul 2014 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Ronelle Ferreras UD 8 16 Mar 2014 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Oscar Raknafa UD 6 10 Nov 2013 International Conference Hall, Nagoya, Japan
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See also

References

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Ryuji Hara
OPBF mini-flyweight champion
30 Octover 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 mini-flyweight champion
30 May 2015 – 12 April 2016
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Katsunari Takayama
Vacant
Title last held by
Donnie Nietes
WBO junior-flyweight champion
31 December 2016 – 1 December 2017
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Ángel Acosta
Preceded by
Sho Kimura
WBO flyweight champion
24 September 2018 – present
Incumbent
Records
Preceded by
Naoya Inoue
6 fights
Fastest Japanese fighter to win a world title
5 fights

30 May 2015 – present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Vasyl Lomachenko
tied on 12 fights
Three-weight world champion after least professional fights
12 fights

24 September 2018 – present
Incumbent
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