Masamori Tokuyama


Masamori Tokuyama is a Japanese-born Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2006. He held the WBC super-flyweight title twice between 2000 and 2006.
Because of his affiliation with North Korea and his experience traveling to the country, he had been banned from entering South Korea and the United States. However, he changed his nationality to South Korean in February 2007. He studied Korean language at Yonsei University in South Korea in March 2007.
WWW chang-su.com

The Winner Biography

Tokuyama was born in Tokyo, Japan as a third generation Zainichi Korean. After graduating from Tokyo Korean Junior and Senior High School, he made his professional debut in 1994, and challenged the Japanese Flyweight Title twice in 1997, but was unsuccessful both times. He won the vacant OPBF Super Flyweight Title in 1999, and defended it twice. His first world title match was against South Korean fighter In-Joo Cho in 2000, whom he beat by unanimous decision over 12 rounds, becoming the first North Korean to win a boxing world title. He defended his WBC and lineal super-flyweight titles eight times before suffering a stunning first-round knockout loss to Katsushige Kawashima in 2004. Tokuyama returned after a one-year lay-off to fight Kawashima on July 18, 2005. Tokuyama was knocked down in the last round, but dominated Kawashima for the rest of the fight, regaining his title by unanimous decision. He defended his title on February 27, 2006, beating José Navarro by unanimous decision. He relinquished his title after this fight and announced his intention to retire from boxing, but later announced that he would continue his career if he could fight Hozumi Hasegawa for the WBC bantamweight title. Tokuyama finalized his retirement on March 14, 2007, since Hasegawa declined his challenge for the bantamweight title. Tokuyama cited lack of motivation as the major reason for his retirement.

Tokuyama and North Korea

Zainichi Koreans either tried to conceal their roots by adopting Japanese names, or only used their real names to show that they were Korean. However, Tokuyama did neither, using both his Japanese name and real name, while declaring that he is a Zainichi Korean. He has often taken politics inside the ring, carrying a North Korean flag in his entrances and wearing trunks labeled "One Korea." Many of Tokuyama's fans regard his performances as the emergence of a new generation of Zainichi Koreans, who are not afraid of their heritage, while others negatively view Tokuyama as using sports to promote a political agenda.
Tokuyama visited North Korea in 2001, and reportedly made a statement vowing allegiance to the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, thanking the leader for his success as a boxer. In 2002, former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi made a visit to North Korea, which revealed the kidnappings of several Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s by North Korea. News of the kidnappings received huge media coverage in Japan, and Tokuyama's website was spammed relentlessly with abusive messages when it was rumored that Tokuyama commented: "They might actually be living pretty happily in North Korea."

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36WinJosé NavarroUD1227 Feb 2006Central Gym, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
35Win31–3–1Katsushige KawashimaUD1218 Jul 2005Central Gym, Osaka, JapanWon WBC super-flyweight title
34Loss30–3–1Katsushige KawashimaTKO1, 1:4728 Jun 2004Arena, Yokohama, JapanLost WBC super-flyweight title
33Win30–2–1Dimitri KirilovUD123 Jan 2004Central Gym, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
32Win29–2–1Katsushige KawashimaUD1223 Jun 2003Arena, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
31Win28–2–1Gerry PeñalosaSD1220 Dec 2002Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
30Win27–2–1Erik LópezRTD6, 3:0026 Aug 2002Super Arena, Saitama, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
29Win26–2–1Kazuhiro RyukoTKO9, 2:4223 Mar 202Arena, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
28Win25–2–1Gerry PeñalosaUD1224 Sep 2001Arena, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
27Win24–2–1Cho In-jooKO4, 0:4520 May 2001Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC super-flyweight title
26Win23–2–1Akihigo NagoUD1212 Dec 2000Maizu Arena, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC super-flyweight title
25Win22–2–1Cho In-jooUD1227 Aug 2000Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanWon WBC super-flyweight title
24Win21–2–1Jack SiahayaKO2, 2:5520 May 2000Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanRetained OPBF super-flyweight title
23Win20–2–1Lee Kang-woongUD1213 Dec 1999Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanRetained OPBF super-flyweight title
22Win19–2–1Pone SaengmorakotSD1217 Sep 1999Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanWon vacant OPBF super-flyweight title
21Win18–2–1Tatsuya ImazuUD1024 Jun 1999Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
20Win17–2–1Takuya KiyaMD1019 Apr 1999Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
19Win16–2–1Hiroki IokaTKO5, 1:1319 Dec 1998Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
18Win15–2–1Katsuhiko YoshikaiRTD4, 3:0027 Oct 1998Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
17Loss14–2–1Nolito CabatoTD7, 1:5025 Nov 1997Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanFor Japanese flyweight title;
Unanimous TD
16Win14–1–1Katsuhiko YoshikaiUD1014 Oct 1997Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
15Win13–1–1Roy TarazonaUD102 Jun 1997Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
14Draw12–1–1Nolito CabatoSD105 Apr 1997Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanFor Japanese flyweight title
13Win12–1Ricky SalesUD1025 Feb 1997Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
12Loss11–1Manny MelchorSD1025 Nov 1996Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win11–0Randy MangubatUD613 Aug 1996Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
10Win10–0Kazumasa OtaniUD617 Jul 1996Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
9Win9–0Katsuyuki KawakamiSD618 Feb 1996Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
8Win8–0Kenichi MatobaUD416 Dec 1995Accion, Fukuoka, Japan
7Win7–0Ryohei MoritaUD629 Oct 1995City Hall, Nagoya, Japan
6Win6–0Tadaaki MekaruUD618 Sep 1995Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
5Win5–0Mitsushi KawagishiUD421 Aug 1995Prefectral Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
4Win4–0Susumu FujitaKO3, 1:1817 Jun 1995Himeji Welfare Gym, Himeji, Japan
3Win3–0Shigeru MorimotoUD410 Jan 1995Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
2Win2–0Kimiaki MiyataUD45 Dec 1994Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Masahiro IshiiKO1, 2:5619 Sep 1994Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan