Nanae Suzuki


Nanae Suzuki is a Japanese former professional boxer who held the WBO atomweight title from 25 February 2022 to 1 September 2022. At the regional level, Suzuki held the Japanese atomweight title from 2018 to 2019.

Boxing career

Early career

Suzuki made her professional debut against Ayumu Seki on 1 March 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Suzuki amassed a 5–2 record during the next eighteen months, before being booked to face Sana Hazuki for the vacant Japanese atomweight title on 17 December 2017. The fight ended in a split decision draw. An immediate rematch was scheduled, with the vacant title on the line, on 8 March 2018. Suzuki won the title by majority decision, with scores of 58–57, 57–57 and 58–57. Suzuki made two successful title defense: a unanimous decision against Akari Arase on 20 August 2018, and a majority decision against Sayaka Aoki on 20 November 2018.

WBO atomweight champion

Suzuki vs. Iwakawa

On 12 February 2020, it was announced that the WBO atomweight champion Mika Iwakawa would make her maiden title defense against Suzuki. The title bout was scheduled as the co-main event of "Guts Fighting & DANGAN", which was expected to take place on 17 March at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The entire event was cancelled on 27 February however, due to measures imposed by the Japanese government to combat the spread of COVID-19. The fight was rescheduled for 26 September 2020, as the co-main event of "REAL SPIRITS.68" which took place at the Kobe Central Gymnasium in Kobe, Japan
She lost the fight by a closely contested split decision. Two of the judges scored the fight scored the fight 97–93 for Iwakwa, while the third judge had it 96–94 for Suzuki. The bout was evenly fought until the last two rounds, which was reflected in the judges scored cards, who had Iwakawa slightly in the lead at the end of the eight round. The champion managed to rally in the final two rounds however, which led to two of the judges awarding her the ninth and tenth round, while the last judge scored the ninth for Suzuki and the tenth for Suzuki.

Suzuki vs. Iwakawa II

On 30 August 2021, Japanese-based boxing promotion DANGAN announced that Iwakawa would make her second WBO atomweight title defense against Suzuki on 15 October 2021, in the main event of "VICTORIA.7", an all-female boxing card. Iwakawa withdrew from the bout on 7 October, a week before it was supposed to take place, due to an undisclosed injury. The title fight was rescheduled for 25 February 2022, fifteen months after their first meeting, as the co-main event of "VICTORIVA.8", another all-female boxing card. It took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Suzuki won the rematch by split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 96–94 in her favor, while the third judge awarded an identical scorecard to Iwakawa.

Suzuki vs. Kuroki

Suzuki made her first title defense against the former WBC minimumweight champion Yuko Kuroki on 1 September 2022. The fight headlined "Queens Crest 2022", an all-women's card, which took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Suzuki struggled to successfully pressure the southpaw Kuroki, who utilized outboxing tactics to win the fight by a wide unanimous decision. Two of the judges awarded Kuroki eight of the ten contested rounds, while the third judge scored seven of the ten rounds for the challenger.

Post title reign

Suzuki was booked to challenge the WBO atomweight champion Yuko Kuroki in the main event of "VICTORIVA vol.11", which took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on March 30, 2023. She lost the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 96–94 and one scorecard of 97–93.

Retirement

Suzuki announced her retirement from professional boxing on 1 September 2023.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
18Loss11–6–1Yuko KurokiUD1030 Mar 2023Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor WBO female atomweight title
17Loss11–5–1Yuko KurokiUD101 Sep 2022Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanLost WBO female atomweight title
16Win11–4–1Mika IwakawaSD1025 Feb 2022Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon WBO female atomweight title
15Loss10–4–1Mika IwakawaSD1026 Sep 2020Central Gym, Kobe, JapanFor WBO female atomweight title
14Win10–3–1Kanyarat YoohanngohUD820 Nov 2019Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13Win9–3–1Minayo KeiUD812 Sep 2019Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
12Loss8–3–1Eri MatsudaUD813 Mar 2019Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanLost Japanese female atomweight title; For OPBF female atomweight title
11Win8–2–1Sayaka AokiMD620 Nov 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese female atomweight title
10Win7–2–1Akari AraseUD620 Aug 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese female atomweight title
9Win6–2–1Sana HazukiMD68 Mar 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant Japanese female atomweight title
8Draw5–2–1Sana Hazuki617 Dec 2017Kyuden Gym, Fukuoka, JapanFor vacant Japanese female atomweight title
7Win5–2Chie HiganoUD61 Sep 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Win4–2Chisa NaitoUD419 May 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
5Win3–2Yumiko Shimooka415 Mar 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win2–2Haruko KanekoTKO2 13 Dec 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
3Loss1–2Sayaka Aoki3 21 Sep 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Loss1–1Yumiko Shimooka415 Jul 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Ayumu Seki41 Mar 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan