Katsuo Tokashiki


Katsuo Tokashiki is a Japanese former WBA Light flyweight champion. He currently works as an actor and television persona, and runs his own boxing gym in Tokyo, Japan.

Childhood & Early career

Tokashiki was born in Okinawa, but was raised in Takarazuka, Hyogo. He caused all sorts of trouble from an early age, and was infamous in his local town by the time he reached high school. He dropped out of school to begin training as a professional boxer, and traveled to Tokyo, where he entered the Kyoei boxing gym. The WBA Light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken also trained at the Kyoei gym during the same period. Tokashiki made his professional debut in December, 1978.

Professional career

Tokashiki was a short and quick fighter, and quickly emerged as one of Japan's best youngest boxers. He did not mark a KO victory until his 12th professional fight in 1980.
Tokashiki compiled a record of 13-1-1 before challenging Hwan Jin Kim for the WBA Light flyweight title in December, 1981. Yoko Gushiken had lost the WBA title to Pedro Flores, after defending it 13 times. Flores in turn lost his title to Kim and Tokashiki set out to avenge his gymmate's Gushiken's loss of his title. Tokashiki won the world title with by unanimous decision, but a scandal involving the Kyoei gym's management was revealed the same day, and Tokashiki's victory was marred by controversy, since he and the previous champion, Gushiken, both trained with the gym.
Regardless, Tokashiki compiled 5 straight defenses, but lost his title to Lupe Madera, after he was injured in the 4th round. Tokashiki got a rematch in October, 1983, but lost a close unanimous decision in 15 rounds. The WBA would have allowed another rematch, but Tokashiki did not want to fight Madera for a fifth time, and decided to challenge Korean boxer Jung Koo Chang for the WBC Light flyweight title instead.
The match took place in Korea, where Chang was already a national hero. This was the only time Tokashiki fought outside Japan in his career, and he knew he had to win by KO to capture the title. Tokashiki was aggressive from the first round, and pinned the champion against the corner, when he was knocked down for the first time in his career with a counter left hook. However, Tokashiki managed to tire out the champion by the 5th round, and Chang showed fatigue, clinching repeatedly, and slipping in the 8th round. Chang's corner bought time by having to retape the champion's gloves twice during rounds, and in the 9th round, Chang surprised Tokashiki with a sudden flurry of punches. Tokashiki was staggered, and the referee immediately stopped the fight to declare Chang the victory, despite the fact that Tokashiki had remained standing as Chang collapsed to the canvas after hearing that he had won. Chang was only 21 years old at the time, he defended the WBC title 15 times. Tokashiki announced his retirement shortly after this fight. His record was 19-4-2.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25LossChang Jung-kooTKO9 1984-08-18Pohang Gymnasium, Pohang, South KoreaFor WBC light flyweight title
24Win19–3–2Takashi SakakibaraKO6 1984-03-08Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
23Loss18–3–2Lupe MaderaUD15 1983-10-23Nakajima Sports Center, Sapporo, JapanFor WBA light flyweight title
22Loss18–2–2Lupe MaderaTD4 1983-07-10Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanLost WBA light flyweight title
21Draw18–1–2Lupe MaderaSD15 1983-04-10Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA light flyweight title
20Win18–1–1Kim Hwan-jinUD15 1983-01-09Prefectural Gymnasium, Kyoto, JapanRetained WBA light flyweight title
19Win17–1–1Sung Nam KimUD15 1982-10-10Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA light flyweight title
18Win16–1–1Masaharu InamiTKO8 1982-07-07Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA light flyweight title
17Win15–1–1Lupe MaderaSD15 1982-04-04Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, JapanRetained WBA light flyweight title
16Win14–1–1Kim Hwan-jinUD15 1981-12-16Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, JapanWon WBA light flyweight title
15Win13–1–1Toshihiro OkumotoKO10 1981-10-19Japan
14Win12–1–1Yong Hyun KimPTS10 1981-06-02Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13Win11–1–1Toshihiro OkumotoPTS10 1981-03-08City Gymnasium, Gushikawa, Japan
12Win10–1–1Phoenix TaniguchiKO9 1980-11-12Japan
11Win9–1–1Manabu IreiUD8 1980-08-30Yamato, Japan
10Loss8–1–1Jong Chul ParkPTS6 1980-06-14Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, Japan
9Win8–0–1Fujio ItoPTS6 1980-02-21Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
8Win7–0–1Masanobu NakasonePTS4 1979-12-23Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
7Win6–0–1Naojiro TodaPTS4 1979-11-12Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Win5–0–1Junichi OtaPTS4 1979-10-13City Gymnasium, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan
5Draw4–0–1Katsumi SatoPTS4 1979-07-12Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0Osamu KiyoharaPTS4 1979-06-05Hachinohe, Japan
3Win3–0Susumu KashiwabaPTS4 1979-02-23Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Kiyoshi KondoPTS4 1979-01-26Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Nobuo HamadaPTS4 1978-12-28Japan

Post Retirement

Like many other Japanese boxers, Tokashiki became a television persona after retiring from boxing, and has appeared on several variety television shows. He has also worked as an actor, and took the role of boxer Fighting Harada in a television drama series in 1990. His appearances on television have decreased lately, but he created the Tokashiki Boxing Gym in Tokyo, and currently works as a trainer there. He also petitioned the court to order Iwao Hakamada's retrial.