Kyotaro Fujimoto


Kyotaro Fujimoto is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2011 to 2019 and a kickboxer. He began competing again as a professional kickboxer in 2021.
He is the former K-1 Heavyweight Champion and successfully defended the title against kickboxing legend Peter Aerts at K-1 [World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama]. He was also the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka tournament finalist and K-1 Young Japan GP 2007 champion.

Early life

Fujimoto was born in Osaka, Japan, on June 23, 1986. He started learning karate of Uomoto-ryū as a child. His parents divorced in 1997 and he lived with his mother, sisters and grandmother.

Kickboxing career

Kyotaro moved to Tokyo and joined Dragon Dojo established by Kensaku Maeda. He debuted on May 17, 2006, against Junichi Hanada.
Kyotaro entered the world of K-1 when he fought and won the K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival tournament in Tokyo by defeating Tatsunori Momose in the semi-final and Takumi Sato in the final, all by decision. This tournament was designed to showcase new talent. He then fought Kyoung Suk Kim during the opening fights at K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 defeating Kim by 2nd Round Knockout.
He further proved himself as a top K-1 contender by defeating the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II and the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii tournament champion Mighty Mo at K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama. Kyotaro was then invited to fight in the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka in which he became the runner up losing to Brazilian Karateka Ewerton Teixeira.
On March 28, 2009, Kyotaro won the K-1 Heavyweight Title tournament by knocking out Melvin Manhoef in semifinals and beating Gokhan Saki in finals by extra round majority decision. Kyotaro became the second fighter after Badr Hari to win the title in K-1 Light Heavyweight division.
On December 5, 2009, he faced Tyrone Spong at the K-1 World [Grand Prix 2009 Final] and lost by unanimous decision.
Kyotaro defended his title against 3 time K-1 Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. Kyotaro knocked Aerts down twice at the end of the 1st Round and then knocked him out with his right hook in the 2nd Round.
At the K-1 Final 16 Kyotaro defeated another legend in Jerome Le Banner. Kyotaro withstood the Frenchman's early power to give him a severe beating in the 3rd round to earn a draw. Le Banner was angry at the decision and walked out of the ring, giving Kyotaro the win by DQ.
His next fight was at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final against 4-time defending champion Semmy Schilt. He was unable to faze his taller opponent, losing by unanimous decision.
He then chose to fight the DREAM Light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. He was knocked down in the second round and again lost by unanimous decision.
In October 2011, Kyotaro relinquished the K-1 Heavyweight title in order to pursue a career in professional boxing.

Return to K-1

In late 2020, Kyotaro announced he would be returning to kickboxing and is expected to compete at K’Festa 4 on January 24, 2021. He was scheduled to fight Kosuke Jitsutaka. The event was later rescheduled for March 31, 2021. He won his fight against Kosuke Jitsutaka by a second-round knockout.
Kyotaro was scheduled to face the K-1 Cruiserweight champion Sina Karimian at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021. Kyotaro lost the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought.
Kyotaro was scheduled to face the J-Network heavyweight champion Hidenori Sakamoto at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on February 27, 2022. Their fight was later postponed for K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022, and was rescheduled as the quarterfinal bout of the 2022 K-1 openweight tournament. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout and advanced to the tournament semifinals, where he faced Hisaki Kato. Sattari won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 29–29, 30–28 and 30–28.
Kyotaro faced the unbeaten Satoshi Ishii in a super heavyweight bout at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 30–27.

Boxing career

Kyotaro debuted as a pro boxer on December 31, 2011, when he took a unanimous decision win over Michael O'Donnell in Osaka, Japan. In September 2012, he defeated Chauncy Welliver by unanimous decision, who at the time was ranked #15 in the world by the WBC.
Kyotaro took Welliver's place in the WBC top 15 as a result of this win. Kyotaro lost his next fight against Solomon Haumono via TKO in the 5th round. The fight was held at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 31, 2012. Kyotaro won his first major regional title against Willie Nasio for the vacant WBC - OPBF heavyweight title in 2017.
Kyotaro retired from professional boxing on November 12, 2020, announcing plans to go into mixed martial arts.

Kickboxing titles

  • Amateur
  • *18th All Japan Shin-Karate Championships Heavyweight tournament winner
  • Professional
  • *2009-2011 K-1 Heavyweight Champion
  • *2009 K-1 Heavyweight Tournament Champion
  • *2008 K-1 Japan GP in Fukuoka Runner-up
  • *2007 K-1 Tryouts Young Japan GP champion

Boxing titles

Awards

  • 18th All Japan Shin-Karate Championship Gaora Award

Ring names

  • Kyōtarō Ranger
  • Kyōtarō Ranger
  • Maeda Keijirō a.k.a. Keijiro Maeda
  • Kyōtarō
  • Kyotaro Fujimoto

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss21–2Daniel DuboisKO2, 2:1021 Dec 2019Copper Box Arena, London, EnglandFor WBO International and vacant WBC Silver heavyweight titles
22Win21–1Suthat KalalekTKO6, 2:0821 Oct 2019Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
21Win20–1Suthat KalalekRTD6, 3:0025 Sep 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
20Win19–1Aaron RussellTKO7, 0:287 May 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
19Win18–1Randall RaymentKO5, 2:504 Nov 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
18Win17–1Herman Ene PurcellTKO9, 1:229 May 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF Heavyweight title
Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title
17Win16–1Willie NasioUD1214 Jan 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant OPBF heavyweight title
16Win15–1Adam LovelockTKO2, 2:132 Aug 2016Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan
15Win14–1Nathan McKayUD82 Aug 2016Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
14Win13–1David Torres GarciaKO3, 1:0521 Oct 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13Win12–1Nobuhiro IshidaSD1030 Apr 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
12Win11–1David RadeffUD818 Dec 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win10–1Kotatsu TakeharaTKO5, 0:4410 Sep 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
10Win9–1Nobuhiro IshidaUD830 Apr 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9Win8–1Kotatsu TakeharaUD825 Nov 2013Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
8Win7–1Okello PeterTKO6, 2:5923 Jul 2013Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant Japanese heavyweight title
7Win6–1Fabrice AuriengTKO7, 1:1117 Apr 2013Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Loss5–1Solomon HaumonoTKO5, 0:5731 Dec 2012Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanFor vacant OPBF heavyweight title
5Win5–0Chauncy WelliverUD1019 Sep 2012Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0Clarence TillmanKO3, 0:4720 Jun 2012Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
3Win3–0Afa TatupuTKO2, 0:4717 May 2012Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Jae-Chan KimTKO2, 1:036 Mar 2012Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Tokyo
1Win1–0Michael O'DonnellUD631 Dec 2011Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan