Ryuya Yamanaka (山中 竜也, Yamanaka Ryūya, born April 11, 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO mini-flyweight title from 2017 to 2018.[1]

Ryuya Yamanaka
Born
山中竜也

(1995-04-11) April 11, 1995 (age 29)
NationalityJapanese
Statistics
Weight(s)Mini-flyweight
Light-flyweight
Flyweight
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Reach66+12 in (169 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins20
Wins by KO7
Losses4

Background

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Yamanaka took up boxing in the sixth grade of elementary school, after having read a boxing manga called Hajime no Ippo. In the second year of junior high school, Yamanaka began training at Hozumi Hasegawa's gym. His younger brother Daiki Yamanaka and younger sister Sumire Yamanaka are both professional boxers as well.[2]

Professional career

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Early career

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Yamanaka made his professional debut against Kazuki Koyanagi on 22 June 2012. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 40–36 in his favor.[3] Yamanaka amassed a 6–1 record during the next two years, before being booked to face Hiroki Yamamoto in his first eight round bout on 6 April 2014. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 80–73, 80–73 and 80–74.[4] This victory extended Yamanaka's winning streak to three fights, which earned him a fight against the #3 ranked OPBF minumumweight contender Roque Lauro on 22 August 2014. He lost the fight by split decision, with scores of 78–75, 75–77 and 76–77.[5]

Yamanaka bounced back from his second professional loss with five consecutive wins, most notably beating Ronelle Ferreras by unanimous decision.[6] This winning streak earned Yamanaka the right to face the former WBO mini flyweight champion Merlito Sabillo for the vacant OPBF mini flyweight title on 11 November 2016.[7] He won the first twelve-round bout of his career and his first title fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 117–111 and 119–109.[8][9]

Yamanaka vacated the OPBF title on 1 February 2017, after just four months as champion. Masato Yamashita, chairman of Shinsei Gym where Yamanaka trained at that point, stated: "I want Yamanaka to fight for a world title next".[10] On 18 March 2017, the WBO ranked Yamanaka as their #1 mini flyweight contender.[11]

WBO mini flyweight champion

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Yamanaka vs. Fukuhara

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On 19 June 2017, it was announced that Yamanaka would challenge his countryman Tatsuya Fukuhara for the WBO mini flyweight title, in what was Fukuhara's first title defense and his first fight as the undisputed champion. The title bout was booked as the main event of a card which took place at the Shiroyama Sky Dome in Ashikita, Japan on 27 August 2017.[12] Yamanaka won the fight by unanimous decision. Two of the judges scored the bout 115–113 for Yamanaka, while the third judge scored the bout 116–112 in his favor.[13][14]

Yamanaka vs. Calleros

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Yamanaka made his first title defense against the one-time WBO interim mini flyweight title challenger Moises Calleros on 18 March 2018, at the Portopia Hotel on Kobe, Japan. Calleros' previous title fight was against Tatsuya Fukuhara, who Yamanaka beat to win the WBO title.[15] Yamanaka won the fight by an eight-round stoppage, as Calleros' corner chose to retire their fighter at the end of the round. He was up on points at the time of the stoppage, with two scorecards of 80–72 and one scorecard of 78–74.[16]

Yamanaka vs. Saludar

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Yamanaka made his second title defense against the #3 ranked WBO mini flyweight contender Vic Saludar. The fight was scheduled for 13 July 2018, and was contested at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan.[17][18] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 115-112. Saludar knocked Yamanaka with a straight right in the seventh round and had, by the end of the bout, opened a cut above Yamanaka's left eye.[19] Yamanaka announced his retirement from boxing at age 23 after being diagnosed with bleeding on the brain following his decision loss to Vic Saludar.[20] According to the rules of the Japan Boxing Commission, athletes who were found to have intracranial hemorrhage would have their licenses automatically expired, which would have prevented Yamanaka from competing domestically as well.[21]

Return from retirement

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On 9 December 2021, the Japanese Boxing Commission revised their rules to allow fighters who were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage to compete again, if they were cleared to do so by a physician. Ten days later, Yamanaka announced he would return to professional competition.[22] He was booked to face Daisuke Sudo on 6 March 2022, in a light flyweight bout.[23] Yamanaka won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.[24]

Yamanaka moved up another weight-class in order to face the #15 ranked WBO flyweight contender Jonathan Taconing next. The bout was scheduled as the main event of the "REAL SPIRITS.81", which took place on 14 August 2022, at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan.[25] Although initially scheduled as a ten round bout, the fight duration was later changed to eight rounds. Yamanaka won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]

Yamanaka faced the #3 ranked WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight contender Kosuke Ando for the vacant WBO AP title in the main event of "2nd WHO's NEXT", which took place on 6 May 2023 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[27] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 120–107, 117–110 and 118–109.[28] Yamanaka made his first title defense against Jayson Vayson on December 17, 2023.[29] He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[30]

Professional boxing record

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24 fights 20 wins 4 losses
By knockout 7 2
By decision 13 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
24 Win 20–4 Puriwat Taosuwan KO 2 (8), 1:06 23 Jun 2024 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
23 Loss 19–4 Jayson Vayson TKO 2 (12), 1:14 17 Dec 2023 Portopia Hotel, Kobe, Japan Lost WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight title
22 Win 19–3 Kosuke Ando UD 12 6 May 2023 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight title
21 Win 18–3 Jonathan Taconing UD 8 14 Aug 2022 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
20 Win 17–3 Daisuke Sudo TKO 5 (6), 1:52 6 Mar 2022 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
19 Loss 16–3 Vic Saludar UD 12 13 Jul 2018 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan Lost WBO mini-flyweight title
18 Win 16–2 Moises Calleros RTD 8 (12), 3:00 18 Mar 2018 Portopia Hotel, Kobe, Japan Retained WBO mini-flyweight title
17 Win 15–2 Tatsuya Fukuhara UD 12 27 Aug 2017 Shiroyama Sky Dome, Ashikita, Japan Won WBO mini-flyweight title
16 Win 14–2 Khanongmek Sithkrukong KO 1 (8), 1:39 12 Mar 2017 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
15 Win 13–2 Merlito Sabillo UD 12 11 Nov 2016 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan Won vacant OPBF mini-flyweight title
14 Win 12–2 Thoedkiad Weerachon TKO 3 (8), 1:23 16 May 2016 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
13 Win 11–2 Ryo Narizuka UD 8 11 Dec 2015 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
12 Win 10–2 Yoshinori Wakahara UD 10 2 Aug 2015 Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
11 Win 9–2 Ronelle Ferreras UD 8 29 Apr 2015 Sangyo Shinko Center, Sakai, Japan
10 Win 8–2 Takahiro Murai UD 8 7 Dec 2014 IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan
9 Loss 7–2 Roque Lauro SD 8 22 Aug 2014 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
8 Win 7–1 Hiroki Yamamoto UD 8 6 Apr 2014 Bunka Center, Mimasaka, Japan
7 Win 6–1 Junya Nishikawa UD 6 22 Sep 2013 Shingu Fureai Welfare Hall, Tatsuno, Japan
6 Win 5–1 Masaki Hirai TKO 4 (6), 1:57 12 Jul 2013 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
5 Loss 4–1 Kenta Shimizu KO 1 (4), 2:22 21 Apr 2013 Abeno Ward Center, Osaka, Japan
4 Win 4–0 Takayuki Teraji TKO 2 (4), 2:36 17 Feb 2013 Kippy Mall, Sanda, Japan
3 Win 3–0 Junpei Omori UD 4 2 Nov 2012 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan
2 Win 2–0 Kenta Yokoe UD 4 15 Sep 2012 Congress Center, Nagoya, Japan
1 Win 1–0 Kazuki Koyanagi UD 4 22 Jun 2012 Central Gym, Kobe, Japan

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Full Report: Yamanaka dethrones WBO 105lb champ Fukuhara". Fightnews. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  2. ^ "【女子ボクシング】山中竜也さんの妹・菫がデビュー「兄に続き世界目指す」". bbm-japan.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. ^ "2012年6月試合結果". jbc.or.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  4. ^ "試合結果2014年4月". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  5. ^ "久保隼5連勝、日本フィリピン対決1勝3敗 8.22神戸". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  6. ^ "好川菜々、世界奪取ならず アナベルに完敗". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. ^ "OPBF4大タイトル戦、11.11神戸市立中央体育館". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  8. ^ "山本隆寛TKO負けで王座陥落、山中竜也は初王座獲得". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  9. ^ "山中竜也が東洋太平洋王座奪取 来年1月にも世界暫定王座決定戦へ". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  10. ^ "[ニュース]2017.2.1 山中竜也がタイトルを返上". boxmob.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Ranking as of Mar. 18, 2017" (PDF). wboboxing.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. ^ "8.27福原辰弥が山中竜也とV1戦、WBOミニマム級". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ "山中竜也、母にささげる世界戴冠 高校進学せず寮生活で鍛えた雑草ボクサー". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  14. ^ "山中竜也「ホッとしました」タイトル奪取に成功". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Ryuya Yamanaka to face Moises Calleros in first title defense". japantimes.co.jp. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  16. ^ Rafael, Dan (19 March 2018). "Ryuya Yamanaka keeps strawweight title as Moises Calleros quits". espn.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  17. ^ Josue, Jr., Fergus E. (27 June 2018). "Mag-utol na Saludar uupak sa Japan". tnt.abante.com.ph. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  18. ^ Bonsubre, Jr., Rene. "VIC SALUDAR BATTLES RYUYA YAMANAKA FOR WBO WORLD TITLE TODAY IN JAPAN". philboxing.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  19. ^ Songalia, Ryan (13 July 2018). "Vic Saludar drops, decisions Ryuya Yamanaka to win WBO strawweight belt". ringtv.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  20. ^ Songalia, Ryan (September 2018). "Ryuya Yamanaka Announces Retirement After Suffering Cerebral Hemorrhage". ringtv.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  21. ^ "山中竜也 硬膜下血腫で現役引退 近く会見へ". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  22. ^ "硬膜下血腫で引退の元世界王者山中竜也さん復帰へ JBCルール改正". asahi.com. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  23. ^ "元世界王者の山中竜也が現役復帰 目標はライトフライ級で10回防衛「必ず自分を超えます」". sponichi.co.jp/. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  24. ^ "3年8カ月ぶり復帰戦山中竜也「絶対に幸せにします」試合後に婚約者お披露目 5回TKO勝利". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  25. ^ "[インタビュー]2022.8.4 山中竜也「自分のボクシングをアピールする」". boxmob.jp. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  26. ^ "【ボクシング】元WBOミニマム級王者の山中竜也が判定で復帰2戦目勝利 世界王座再奪取へ前進". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  27. ^ "山中竜也「初の後楽園ホール。強さを見せる」". boxmob.jp. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  28. ^ "硬膜下血腫で一時引退の山中竜也がアジア地域王座奪取 復帰3連勝で世界王座返り咲き射程【ボクシング】". chunichi.co.jp. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  29. ^ "【ボクモバニュース】山中竜也のV1戦が決定! 2023.11.1". ボクシングモバイル (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  30. ^ "【ボクシング】山中竜也「あれは見えなかった…」予想外の右アッパーでTKO負け 初防衛ならず - ボクシング : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 May 2024.
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Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBO minimumweight champion
August 27, 2017 – July 13, 2018
Succeeded by