Sho Kimura

Sho Kimura (木村 翔, Kimura Shō, born November 24, 1988) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO flyweight title from 2017 to 2018.

Sho Kimura
Statistics
Real name	木村翔
Weight(s)	Flyweight
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach	66 ^1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1988-11-24) November 24, 1988 Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	23
Wins	18
Wins by KO	11
Losses	3
Draws	2

Professional career

WBO Asia Pacific Title

on Nov 23, 2016, Kimura defeated Masahiro Sakamoto to win the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title.[1]

WBO World Title

On Jul 28, 2017, Sho Kimura defeated Zou Shiming by 11th round knockout to win the title in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China.[2] Kimura entered the fight ranked number 7 by the WBO.[3] He entered the fight as a 10-1 underdog.[4] The fight was promoted by Zou with an entirely new training and management team.[5][6]

Kimura stopped the two-time Olympic champion with a flurry of punches late in the 11th round of the 12-round contest. Zou collapsed flat on his back under the onslaught and waved no more to a stunned capacity crowd at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 28-year-old Kimura suffered a cut eye as early as the third round – from an accidental head butt – and needed medical attention in the sixth but he fought on doggedly, delivering his payload late in the 11th round. Kimura had Zou backed up against the ropes before he went for the kill, landing a good right hook before a furious left-right combination staggered Zou. The Chinese star then crumbled with exhaustion. Zou failed to get up and Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan didn't bother even to count as the audience stood in stunned silence.

Officially, the bout was marked as a technical knockout victory with the stoppage coming two minutes and 28 seconds into the 11th round. The 36-year-old Zunyi-born Chinese fighter eventually got up – after a full minute – and after Kimura rushed to his corner to offer his help. A tearful Zou hugged his wife, Ying Ying Ran, who stood in shock disbelief. He grabbed the microphone before making what could be the longest post-fight speech in history.[7]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary

23 fights	18 wins	3 losses
By knockout	11	1
By decision	7	2
Draws	2

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
23	Loss	18–3–2	Carlos Cañizales	UD	12	26 May 2019	Sports Center Gymnasium, Fuzhou, China	For WBA (Regular) light flyweight title
22	Win	18–2–2	Wicha Phulaikhao	KO	3 (10)	30 Mar 2019	PuTuo Stadium, Shanghai, China	Won vacant OPBF Silver flyweight title
21	Loss	17–2–2	Kosei Tanaka	MD	12	24 Sep 2018	Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, Japan	Lost WBO flyweight title
20	Win	17–1–2	Froilan Saludar	KO	6 (12), 0:54	27 Jul 2018	Guosen Gymnasium, Qingdao, China	Retained WBO flyweight title
19	Win	16–1–2	Toshiyuki Igarashi	TKO	9 (12), 2:34	31 Dec 2017	Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan	Retained WBO flyweight title
18	Win	15–1–2	Zou Shiming	TKO	11 (12), 2:28	28 Jul 2017	Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China	Won WBO flyweight title
17	Win	14–1–2	Wisitsak Saiwaew	KO	2 (8), 2:11	13 May 2017	Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, SAR
16	Win	13–1–2	Masahiro Sakamoto	MD	12	23 Nov 2016	Sumiyoshi SportsCenter, Osaka, Japan	Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title
15	Win	12–1–2	Thiraphong Phaepho	KO	1 (10), 2:35	6 Jul 2016	Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand
14	Win	11–1–2	Yamato Uchinono	TKO	5 (8), 1:45	12 May 2016	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13	Win	10–1–2	Takayuki Teraji	TKO	3 (8), 2:21	29 Feb 2016	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
12	Win	9–1–2	Naoki Shoda	TKO	1 (6), 1:22	30 Nov 2015	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11	Win	8–1–2	Ryo Narizuka	RTD	6 (8), 3:00	17 Sep 2015	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
10	Win	7–1–2	Kamon Singram	TKO	2 (6), 0:51	25 Jul 2015	Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand
9	Win	6–1–2	Tomoyuki Kaneko	UD	5	26 May 2015	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
8	Draw	5–1–2	Isao Aoyama	MD	6	18 Feb 2015	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
7	Draw	5–1–1	Akira Kokubo	MD	4	26 Sep 2014	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6	Win	5–1	Yuma Kudo	UD	4	1 Jul 2014	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
5	Win	4–1	Katsunori Shimooki	UD	4	4 Apr 2014	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4	Win	3–1	Rungkeat Sithsaithong	PTS	4	29 Jan 2014	Suranaree Army Camp Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
3	Win	2–1	Ryo Irie	UD	4	24 Nov 2013	Hero's Boxing Gym, Fukaya, Japan
2	Win	1–1	Akira Kokubo	SD	4	24 Jul 2013	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1	Loss	0–1	Shosuke Oji	KO	1 (4), 1:15	22 Apr 2013	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Personal life

Sho Kimura was born in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. And currently resides in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Kimura has one brother and his mother died at the age of 44. At the press conference after the WBO flyweight title fight, Kimura admitted that the big driving factor was his mother. The fighter stated that he was determined to take the title to his mother's grave, as he did with the WBO Asia Pacific title when he won that last year. It's clear that this is a personal mission for him and something that really is a driving factor with his career going forward.[8]

Before winning the WBO flyweight title, Kimura had been working as a deliveryman in Tokyo and was under extreme financial pressure - a hardship experienced by many boxers in the early stages of their career. During this period, Kimura only had time for training in the evenings.

See also

• List of flyweight boxing champions
• List of Japanese boxing world champions

References

1. "Sho Kimura claims WBO Asia Pacific title,defeats Masahiro Sakamoto". Asian Boxing.
2. "Sho Kimura knocks out Zou Shiming in 11 to lift flyweight belt - The Ring". 28 July 2017.
3. "Sho Kimura knocks out Zou Shiming".
4. "Sho Kimura Blasts Zou Shiming in Shocker To Win WBO Title - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com.
5. "Zou Shiming stunned by Sho Kimura in China - Boxing News". 28 July 2017.
6. 李松. "Zou charting his own path - Sports - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn.
7. "Sho Kimura knocks out Zou Shiming to claim WBO world title". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
8. "Categorie: Sho Kimura". Asian Boxing. Retrieved 2017-08-07.

External links

• Boxing record for Sho Kimura from BoxRec

Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by Zou Shiming	WBO flyweight champion July 28, 2017 – September 24, 2018	Succeeded by Kosei Tanaka