Kuniaki Shibata


Kuniaki Shibata is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1977. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council and Ring magazine featherweight titles from 1970 to 1972, the World Boxing Association and Ring magazine super-featherweight titles in 1973, and the WBC super-featherweight title from 1974 to 1975.

Biography

Shibata won his debut match in 1965 with a first-round knockout, and fought for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight title in 1969, but lost by sixth-round knockout. In April 1970 he challenged for the vacant Japanese featherweight title, and won by tenth-round knockout. He relinquished the title to challenge WBC featherweight champion Vicente Saldivar, and won the title when Saldivar gave up after the twelfth round.
He made his first defense by first-round knockout, and retained his title in his second defense with a draw, but lost to Clemente Sanchez in May, 1972.
Shibata moved up to super featherweight, and got his second world title shot against Lineal and WBA champion Ben Villaflor in Honolulu on March 12, 1973. He won by fifteen-round unanimous decision to capture his second world title.
Shibata made one defense in Japan before returning to the United States to fight Ben Villaflor again for his second defense. Shibata lost by knockout less than 2 minutes into the first round to lose his second world title.
On February 28, 1974, he challenged Ricardo Arredondo for the WBC super featherweight title, and won by unanimous decision for his third world title. He defended the title three times before losing to Alfredo Escalera in 1975. He attempted another comeback, but announced his retirement in 1977. His record was 47-6-3.
Shibata was a short and speedy fighter, who took advantage of even the slightest openings to throw in a flurry of punches. However, he also had a very weak chin, and was very susceptible to counter punches. Five of his six career losses were by knockout. He and former WBC lightweight champion Guts Ishimatsu were gym mates, and both fighters were trained by Eddie Townsend.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
56WinAl EspinosaPTS10Nov 29, 1975Korakuen Hall, Japan
55Win46–6–3Susumu OkabeUD10Oct 10, 1975Korakuen Hall, Japan
54Win45–6–3Tamio NegishiUD10Mar 22, 1975Akita City, Japan
53Loss44–6–3Alfredo EscaleraKO2, 2:56Jul 5, 1975Kasamatsu Athletic Park Gym, Hitachinaka, JapanLost WBC super-featherweight title
52Win44–5–3Abdelkader Ould MakhloufiUD15Mar 27, 1975Kyuden Gym, Fukuoka, JapanRetained WBC super-featherweight title
51Win43–5–3Ramiro BolanosKO15, 2:29Oct 3, 1974Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBC super-featherweight title
50Win42–5–3Antonio AmayaMD15Jun 27, 1974Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBC super-featherweight title
49Win41–5–3Ricardo ArredondoUD15Feb 28, 1974Nihon University Auditorium, JapanWon WBC super-featherweight title
48Loss40–5–3Ben VillaflorKO1, 1:56Oct 17, 1973Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Lost WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
47Win40–4–3Nam Chul ChungKO2, 0:49Sep 3, 1973Hitachi, Japan
46Win39–4–3Victor Federico EchegarayUD15Jun 19, 1973Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
45Win38–4–3Ben VillaflorUD15Mar 12, 1973Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.Won WBA and The Ring super-featherweight titles
44Win37–4–3Kimio ShindoKO7, 2:12Feb 3, 1973Sendai, Japan
43Loss36–4–3Andries SteynPTS10Oct 7, 1972Ellis Park Tennis Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
42Win36–3–3Bert NabalatanUD10Jul 11, 1972Honolulu International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
41Loss35–3–3Clemente SánchezKO3, 2:26May 19, 1972Nihon University Auditorium, JapanLost WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
40Draw35–2–3Ernesto MarcelSD15Nov 11, 1971Ehime Rugby Stadium, Matsuyama, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
39Win35–2–2Hyun KimUD10Aug 1, 1971Nagoya, Japan
38Win34–2–2Raul CruzKO1, 3:04Jun 3, 1971Metropolitan Gym, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
37Win33–2–2Vicente GarciaPTS10Mar 7, 1971Hitachi, Japan
36Win32–2–2Vicente SaldivarRTD12, 3:00Dec 11, 1970Auditorio Municipal, Tijuana, MexicoWon WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
35Win31–2–2Hyun KimUD10Sep 9, 1970Japan
34Draw30–2–2Jose AcostaMD10Jul 8, 1970Korakuen Hall, Japan
33Win30–2–1Yasuo SakuraiKO10, 0:44Apr 15, 1970JapanWon vacant Japanese featherweight title
32Win29–2–1Felipe TorresUD10Feb 4, 1970Japan
31Win28–2–1Flash BesandeKO3, 1:56Oct 22, 1969Osaka, Japan
30Win27–2–1Fernando SoteloKO9, 1:07Sep 10, 1969Japan
29Win26–2–1Yoshio AndoKO8, 2:58Jun 11, 1969Japan
28Win25–2–1Kid BarriosKO1, 2:10Apr 28, 1969Japan
27Win24–2–1Koji IkedaPTS10Mar 24, 1969Japan
26Loss23–2–1Hubert KangKO6, 1:14Jan 15, 1969JapanFor OPBF featherweight title
25Win23–1–1Orlando MedinaUD10Oct 23, 1968Korakuen Hall, Japan
24Draw22–1–1Toshiharu MoriTD3, 0:38Aug 14, 1968Japan
23Win22–1Beto MaldonadoPTS10Jul 3, 1968Korakuen Hall, Japan
22Loss21–1Dwight HawkinsKO7, 1:14Mar 27, 1968Korakuen Hall, Japan
21Win21–0Ramiro NidesPTS10Mar 1, 1968Recreation Center, Agana, Guam
20Win20–0Tiny PalacioKO5, 1:51Jan 31, 1968Japan
19Win19–0Soo Bok KwonKO2, 1:19Dec 27, 1967Japan
18Win18–0Chang Bok LeeKO2, 1:50Dec 5, 1967Hitachi, Japan
17Win17–0Chang Soo YunRTD9, 3:00Nov 15, 1967Gifu, Japan
16Win16–0Roy AmolongUD10Sep 20, 1967Korakuen Hall, Japan
15Win15–0Roberto AndradeKO5, 2:05Aug 9, 1967Korakuen Hall, Japan
14Win14–0Katsutoshi AokiKO1, 1:52Jul 5, 1967Japan
13Win13–0Hyun KimPTS10Mar 5, 1967Japan
12Win12–0Hiroshi MiyataKO4, 1:47Feb 12, 1967Japan
11Win11–0Alberto ReyesPTS10Jan 15, 1967Japan
10Win10–0Kenji FuseKO2, 1:52Dec 11, 1966Japan
9Win9–0Atsushi GunjiKO6, 2:51Oct 23, 1966Japan
8Win8–0Masachika TokutomeKO5, 1:16Jan 31, 1966Osaka, Japan
7Win7–0Takao SuzukiKO1, 1:50Dec 20, 1965Japan
6Win6–0Toshihiko NojiriPTS4Nov 1, 1965Japan
5Win5–0Yoshinobu YokoyamaKO1, 0:34Sep 27, 1965Japan
4Win4–0Masaru MiyazakiPTS4Sep 2, 1965Japan
3Win3–0Norio SugimotoKO1, 1:40Jul 28, 1965Japan
2Win2–0Hitoshi YoshinoKO1, 0:58Apr 5, 1965Japan
1Win1–0Seiichi IizukaKO1, 1:40Mar 6, 1965Japan