Katsunari Takayama


Katsunari Takayama is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a five-time mini-flyweight world champion, having held the WBC title in 2005, the IBF title twice between 2013 and 2015, and the WBO title twice between 2014 and 2017. He retired as a professional in 2017, as WBO world champion, to focus on participation in the 2020 Olympics, but returned in 2020 after failing to qualify.
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Early life

Takayama weighed about 60 kg at the age of twelve. He started playing rugby and athletics, but did not last long. It was in summer in the second grade of junior high school that his friend brought him to a boxing gym. When he got started on the punching bag, despite he said he is going to be a world champion, he could not do more than three push-ups in a row. Even after his own workout, he had been watching senior boxers' sparring sessions and trainees' training.

Professional boxing career

Takayama made his professional debut in October 2000 and won the All-Japan Rookie King Tournament in December 2001.

Japan

WBC title

On April 4, 2005 Takayama defeated Isaac Bustos for the WBC world title, by a unanimous decision. This victory gave Takayama the distinction of being the 50th Japanese fighter to win a world title. However, he lost a next bout against Eagle Kyowa by a unanimous decision, on August 6, 2005.

Interim WBA title

On November 7, 2006 he defeated Carlos Melo for the WBA interim title when he was originally supposed to face Yutaka Niida for the WBA title in September. However, due to a costal cartilage fracture Niida sustained from sparring, the fight would be delayed to April 7, 2007 ending in a split decision loss. After the fight, his then manager rejected the decision and uttered that it was a match fixing and that he would make civil litigation. However, he visited the JBC two days later and apologized for his rant saying that he had just wanted to pat his boxer on the back. Furthermore, most of the purse for that fight had not been paid. Although Takayama and Nakade announced that they would transfer to any other gym, the matters on the match fee and transfer fee were not resolved over months.
Takayama got another world title shot on July 14, 2009. This time, it was for the WBA minimumweight title which is held by Roman Gonzalez. Unsuccessfully, Takayama lost on all judges. He retired as a JBC-licensed boxer to fight for the WBO and IBF's titles in late 2009. At that time the JBC had approved no fight for the WBO and IBF's titles, but conditionally allowed them from February 28, 2011. That is because the West Japan Boxing Association to which Takayama and Ken'ichi Yamaguchi belonged strongly urged reform of the system after they issued retirement notices.

Away from Japan

Takayama then trained at his fellow boxer Ken'ichi Yamaguchi's Osaka Tenjin Boxing Gym in Japan and ALA Boxing Gym in the Philippines, and was promoted by ALA Promotions since April 2010.
He won an IBF minimumweight title eliminator via a sixth round technical knockout at the Carnival City in Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa in September 2010. He challenged Nkosinathi Joyi for that title at the Carnival City on January 29, 2011 after being postponed twice, but the fight ended in a no-contest due to a cut on Takayama's head after an accidental head-butt in the third round. He had a broken right hand since just before the fight.
Takayama rematched Joyi at the Orient Theatre in East London, Eastern Cape after postponed four times on March 30, 2012. It was the SABC-televised second boxing event after one year interruption. According to Japanese sources, Takayama reportedly dominated the whole fight except that he went down resulting from a slip in the fifth round, and stated with increased confidence through the twelve rounds that "I fought as was planned and did my best" after a unanimous decision loss with scores of 111–116 twice and 110–117. A boxing writer for South Africa's SuperSport wrote that "Many ringsiders were of the opinion that the decision could have gone in favour of the challenger" on Fightnews.com which was presented the WBA’s Website of the Year in 2010. In addition, there were several articles showing that Joyi had struggled against Takayama. However the IBF's Lindsey Tucker has denied their views on BoxingScene.com.
He fought against Filipino Mateo Handig for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific mini flyweight title and the mandatory challenger status to the IBF mini flyweight title in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines on October 13, 2012. But he lost the fight via a split decision after being deducted a point in the fourth round for pushing. Two Filipino judges scored the fight 114-113 for Handig, while the other Thai judge scored it 115-112 for Takayama. The IBF ordered a rematch due to the inadequacy of the mandatory drug testing before and after the fight. After Handig's injury, Takayama earned the right to challenge for the world title.

IBF title

Takayama defeated Mario Rodríguez via a unanimous decision with the scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 115-113 to be crowned the IBF mini flyweight world champion at the Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 30, 2013. He was the first foreign boxer for ALA Promotions, and became the third ever world champion for them. "I'm gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee," Takayama had told at the pre-fight conference. He tried to imitate the Ali shuffle during the fight.

Return to Japan

The JBC joined the WBO and the IBF on April 1, 2013. After more than four years' absence from the ring in Japan, Takayama's boxer's license was issued again by the JBC on July 12, 2013. He registered with Nakazato Boxing Gym to defend his title against Vergilio Silvano via a unanimous decision at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 3, 2013.
While Takayama has gone through five gyms, his Japanese trainer for his entire career is Hiroaki Nakade who has so far served as the second/trainer in the world title bouts of all the four major sanctioning bodies i.e. the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
45WinKha LuUD12Dec 18, 2024Bula Gymnasium, General Santos, PhilippinesWon vacant IBO mini-flyweight title
44Win34–9 Jerome BaloroUD8Sep 10, 2023Edion Arena, Osaka, Jaoan
43Win33–9 Joel LinoUD8Jun 11, 2023KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan
42Loss32–9 Elwin SotoTKO9, 2:44May 8, 2021AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USFor WBO junior-flyweight title
41Win32–8 Reiya KonishiUD6Dec 27, 2020Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan
40Win31–8 Riku KanoTD6, 0:58Aug 20, 2016Komagatani Gym, Sanda, JapanWon vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
39Loss30–8 José ArgumedoTD9, 3:00Dec 31, 2015Edion Arena, Osaka, JapanLost IBF mini-flyweight title
38Win30–7 Ryuji HaraTKO8, 1:20Sep 27, 2015Edion Arena, Osaka, JapanRetained IBF mini-flyweight title
37Win29–7 Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr.TD9, 2:19Apr 22, 2015Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanRetained IBF mini-flyweight title
36Win28–7 Go OdairaTKO7, 2:24Dec 31, 2014Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanWon vacant WBO and IBF mini-flyweight titles
35Loss27–7 Francisco Rodríguez Jr.UD12Aug 9, 2014Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, MexicoLost IBF mini-flyweight title;
For WBO mini-flyweight title
34Win27–6 Shin OnoUD12May 7, 2014Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanRetained IBF mini-flyweight title
33Win26–6 Vergilio SilvanoUD12Dec 3, 2013Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanRetained IBF mini-flyweight title
32Win25–6 Mario RodríguezUD12Mar 30, 2013Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón, Guasave, MexicoWon IBF mini-flyweight title
31Loss24–6 Mateo HandigSD12Oct 13, 2012Municipal Gymnasium, La Trinidad, PhilippinesFor vacant IBF Pan Pacific mini-flyweight title
30Loss24–5 Nkosinathi JoyiUD12Mar 30, 2012Orient Theatre, East London, South AfricaFor IBF mini-flyweight title
2924–4 Nkosinathi JoyiNC3, 1:59Jan 29, 2011Carnival City, Brakpan, South AfricaIBF mini-flyweight title at stake;
NC after Takayama cut from accidental head clash
28Win24–4Tshepo LefeleTKO6, 0:51Sep 1, 2010Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
27Loss23–4Román GonzálezUD12Jul 14, 2009World Memorial Hall, Kobe, JapanFor WBA mini-flyweight title
26Win23–3Roemart SentillasUD8Mar 12, 2009World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Japan
25Win22–3Javier MurilloUD10Sep 22, 2008Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
24Win21–3Mating KilakilKO9, 3:08Apr 28, 2008Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
23Win20–3Ngaoprajan SIthsaithongTKO9, 1:24Jan 5, 2008Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
22Win19–3Fabio MarfaUD10Oct 6, 2007Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
21Loss18–3Yutaka Niida12Apr 7, 2007Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA mini-flyweight title
20Win18–2Carlos MeloTD9, 1:30Nov 7, 2006Grand Cube, Osaka, JapanWon WBA interim mini-flyweight title
19Win17–2Satoshi KogumazakaTD9, 2:08Mar 18, 2006Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon Japanese mini-flyweight title
18Win16–2Rollen Del Castillo8, 0:21Dec 3, 2005Central Hall, Osaka, Japan
17Loss15–2Eagle KyowaUD12Aug 6, 2005Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanLost WBC mini-flyweight title
16Win15–1Isaac BustosUD12Apr 4, 2005Central Gym, Osaka, JapanWon WBC mini-flyweight title
15Win14–1Numchai TaksinisanKO3, 1:48Dec 8, 2004Central Hall, Osaka, Japan
14Win13–1Elmer GejonMD10Aug 7, 2004Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
13Win12–1Kosuke FujiwaraUD10Feb 15, 2004Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
12Win11–1Saming TwingymTKO3, 1:23Dec 21, 2003Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
11Loss10–1Masato HatakeyamaTKO9, 2:34Apr 21, 2003Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor Japanese junior-flyweight title
10Win10–0Songkram PorpaoinMD8Oct 14, 2002Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9Win9–0Takashi OkajimaTKO8, 1:43Jul 13, 2002Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
8Win8–0Daisaku KashiwagiTKO4, 2:32May 5, 2002Central Gym, Osaka, Japan
7Win7–0Koyo YamazakiUD6Dec 15, 2001Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Win6–0Yoshifumi NishimuraTKO2, 2:04Nov 18, 2001Spark Chikujo, Chikujō, Japan
5Win5–0Daigoro OmagariUD6Oct 13, 2001City Hall, Nagoya, Japan
4Win4–0Hiroaki Kusunoki6Sep 13, 2001Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
3Win3–0Taiki Tatsuiwa2 Jul 22, 2001Mizuno Sports, Osaka, Japan
2Win2–0Takashi Kunishige4Apr 28, 2001Azalea Taisho, Osaka, Japan
1Win1–0Yozo Nakamura4 Oct 18, 2000Archaic Hall, Amagasaki, Japan