Riku Kano


Riku Kano is a Japanese professional boxer who challenged for the WBO mini-flyweight title in 2016. At the regional level, Kano has held the WBO Asia Pacific title at light flyweight and flyweight.
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Professional boxing career

Mini flyweight

Early career

Kano made his professional debut against Benjie Bartolome on 7 December 2013, and lost the fight by split decision. After suffering his first professional loss, Kano rebounded by winning four of his next five fights, with three victories coming by way of stoppage. After amassing a 4–1–1 record, Kano was scheduled to fight Madit Sada for the vacant WBA Asia minimumweight title on 9 December 2014. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him every single round of the bout.
Kano was scheduled to fight in Japan for the first time in his career on 7 June 2015, when he faced Marihot Hutajulu. He won the fight by a third-round knockout. Kano was next scheduled to face Kenta Matsui on 27 September 2015. He won the six round bout by unanimous decision, with scores of 60–56, 59–55 and 59–56. Kano beat Pigmy Kokietgym by unanimous decision on 27 December 2015.

World title challenge

Kano was scheduled to face the debuting Chaichana Sor Por Por Laos on 26 February 2016. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Chaichana after just 64 seconds. Kano faced a significant step-up in competition in his next bout, as he was faced the former WBO World mini-flyweight champion Merlito Sabillo for the interim OPBF minimumweight title. The bout was scheduled as the main event of the "Sanda to the World 7" event on 8 May 2016, at the Bunka Center in Sanda, Hyōgo. Kano won the fight by split decision. Two judges scored the fight 117–111 for Kano, while the third judge scored it 115–113 for Sabillo.
After beating Sabillo, Kano was ranked as the #1 mini-flyweight by the WBO. As such, he was scheduled to face the #2 ranked mini-flyweight contender Katsunari Takayama for the vacant WBO mini-flyweight title. The fight was scheduled for 20 August 2016, and was held at the Komagatani Gym in Sanda, Hyōgo. The bout was broadcast only by TV Osaka, and as such only boxing fans in the Kantō region were able to watch it. Kano failed to become the youngest Japanese world boxing champion, as Takayama won the fight by technical decision in the sixth round. Takayama suffered a cut above his left eye due to an accidental clash of heads in the second round, which was exacerbated as the fight went on. He had built up enough of a lead by that point however, and was awarded a unanimous decision, with scores of 59–56, 59–58 and 59–55.

Later mini flyweight career

Kano was scheduled to fight the 0–5 Thoedkiad Weerachon on 11 December 2016. He won the fight by a third–round technical knockout. Kano was next scheduled to fight the journeyman Jerry Tomogdan for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Minimumweight title on 5 May 2017, at the Bunka Center in Sanda, Hyōgo. He suffered an upset loss, as Tomogdan won the fight by a sixth-round knockout, stopping Kano with body strikes at the 1:56 minute mark.
Kano was scheduled to fight the #8 ranked Japanese mini-flyweight contender Naoya Haruguchi in the main event of "W-ENDLESS Presents 11th from Mita to the World" on 5 November 2017, at the Sanda Hotel in Sanda, Hyōgo. He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 79–74, 78–75 and 76–76. Kano was scheduled to face the debuting Kittisak Khamlong on 29 April 2018, on the undercard of the "1eth from Mita to the World" event. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Kittisak in 81 seconds.
Kano was scheduled to challenge the reigning Japanese mini-flyweight champion Shin Ono in the latter's first title defense. The title bout was scheduled for 24 August 2018, and was held at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Ono won the fight by a technical knockout, as the referee was forced to stop the fight after Kano suffered two knockdowns in the eight round. Ono was ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, with two judges having him up 68–65, while the third judge had him at 67–66.

Light flyweight

After suffering his fourth loss at mini-flyweight, Kano moved up a weight class for his next bout. He was scheduled to face Takayuki Teraji on 2 December 2018. Kano won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 79–74, 79–73 and 80–74. Kano was scheduled to fight Mektison Marganti for the vacant WBC Youth World light-flyweight title on 26 May 2019. He won the fight by an eight-round knockout, after Marganti's corner threw in the towel. Kano faced the 2018 "Rookie of the Year" light-flyweight runner-up Tetsuya Mimura on 17 November 2019, in his last fight of the year. He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 78–74, 77–76, 76–76.
Kano was scheduled to fight Ryoki Hirai for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title on 23 November 2020. He won the fight by split decision. Two judges scored the fight 116–111 and 114–113 for him, while the third judge scored it 114–113 for Hirai. Kano made his first title defense against Takumi Sakae on 23 July 2021. He won the fight by a ninth-round technical knockout. Kano vacated the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title on 14 February 2022.

Flyweight

Kano faced the journeyman Sanchai Yotboon in a flyweight bout on 24 April 2022, in the main event of a Taisei Promotions card, held at the EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout, due to referee stoppage. He dropped Yotboon twice prior to the stoppage, with both knockdowns coming in the second round.
After successfully debuting in a new weight class, Kano was booked to face Yuga Inoue for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title on 3 September 2022. He captured the title by unanimous decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 115–113 for him, while the third judge scored the fight 116–112 in his favor.
Kano made his first WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title defense against Daiki Kameyama on 16 April 2023. He retained the title by a split decision draw, with two judges awarding a 115–113 card to Kano and Kameyama respectively, while the third ringside official had the fight scored as an even 114–114 draw.

WBO Flyweight Championship

Kano challenged Anthony Olascuaga for the vacant WBO flyweight title at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on July 20, 2024. He lost by KO in the 3rd round.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss22–5–2Anthony OlascuagaTKO3, 2:5020 Jul 2024Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanFor vacant WBO flyweight title
28Win22–4–2Khomsan KaewrueanTKO2, 1:2510 Dec 2023EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan
27Win21–4–2Kitidech HirunsukUD1010 Sep 2023EDION Arena Osaka, Japan
26DrawDaiki KameyamaSD1216 Apr 2023EDION Arena Osaka, JapanRetained WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title
25Win20–4–1Yuga InoueUD123 Sep 2022EDION Arena Osaka, JapanWon vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title
24Win19–4–1Sanchai YotboonTKO2, 2:4224 Apr 2022EDION Arena Osaka, Japan
23Win18–4–1Takumi SakaeTKO9, 2:1223 Jul 2021EDION Arena Osaka, JapanRetained WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title
22Win17–4–1Ryoki HiraiSD1223 Nov 2020Bunka Center, Sanda, JapanWon vacant WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title
21Win16–4–1Tetsuya MimuraMD817 Nov 2019Sanda Hotel, Sanda, Japan
20Win15–4–1Mektison MargantiKO8, 2:4226 May 2019Osaka City University, Osaka, JapanWon vacant WBC Youth light-flyweight title
19Win14–4–1Takayuki TerajiUD82 Dec 2018Sanda Hotel, Sanda, Japan
18Loss13–4–1Shin OnoTKO8, 2:4624 Aug 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor Japanese mini-flyweight title
17Win13–3–1Kittisak KhamlongKO1, 1:2129 Apr 2018Sanda Hotel, Sanda, Japan
16Win12–3–1Naoya HaruguchiMD85 Nov 2017Sanda Hotel, Sanda, Japan
15Loss11–3–1Jerry TomogdanKO6, 1:565 May 2017Bunka Center, Sanda, JapanFor vacant WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title
14Win11–2–1Thoedkiad WeerachonTKO3, 0:2111 Dec 2016Bunka Center, Sanda, Japan
13Loss10–2–1Katsunari TakayamaTD6, 0:5820 Aug 2016Komagatani Gym, Sanda, JapanFor vacant WBO mini-flyweight title
12Win10–1–1Merlito SabilloSD128 May 2016Bunka Center, Sanda, JapanWon OPBF interim mini-flyweight title
11Win9–1–1Chaichana Sor Por Por LaosKO1, 1:0426 Feb 2016Wat Kokkuod, Surin, Thailand
10Win8–1–1Wicha PhulaikhaoUD827 Dec 2015Bunka Center, Sanda, Japan
9Win7–1–1Kenta MatsuiUD627 Sep 2015EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan
8Win6–1–1Marihot HutajuluKO3, 1:307 Jun 2015Bunka Center, Sanda, Japan
7Win5–1–1Madit SadaUD129 Dec 2014Nonthaburi, ThailandWon vacant WBA Asia mini-flyweight title
6Win4–1–1Wittaya SithsaithongKO5 14 Nov 2014Tupatemee Air Force Stadium, Pathum Thani, Thailand
5Win3–1–1Sakadpetch Sor KanitsornKO6 12 Sep 2014Municipality of Bangpliyai, Samut Prakan, Thailand
4Win2–1–1Mongkol KamsommatKO3 10 Jul 2014Pak Kret Pier, Pak Kret, Thailand
3Draw1–1–1Vicente MontecinoMD410 May 2014Olivarez Stadium, Paranaque City, Philippines
2Win1–1Ronnie RejinoUD422 Mar 2014Benguet State University Gym, La Trinidad, Philippines
1Loss0–1Benjie BartolomeSD47 Dec 2013Barangay Buayang Bato, Mandaluyong City, Philippines