Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, in 2015
Born
辰吉丈一郎

(1970-05-15) May 15, 1970
Kurashiki, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other namesNaniwa no Joe
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach65 in (165 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins20
Wins by KO14
Losses7
Draws1

Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (辰吉丈一郎, Tatsuyoshi Jōichirō, born May 15, 1970) is a former World Boxing Council (WBC) world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 20–7–1 (14 KOs).

He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows.

He is named after Joe Yabuki, the main character of the boxing anime, Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow's Joe). Coincidentally, he fights in the same weight class (bantamweight) as the character he is named after.

He has a large reach in comparison with his height (Tatsuyoshi is 164 cm tall with a reach of 178 cm) and is known for his distinctively low guard. He often keeps his hands in front of his chest, unlike other boxers who usually keep their hands closer to the head.

He is managed by the Osaka Teiken boxing gym.

Biography

Tatsuyoshi's father was a boxing fan and began training his son when he was a toddler. After graduating from middle school, Tatsuyoshi moved to Osaka to begin training, working part-time at restaurants to support himself. Tatsyoshi won the Japanese amateur bantamweight championship at age 17, becoming a candidate for the Seoul Olympics. Tatsuyoshi was featured in a local Kansai newspaper as one of Japan's best young boxers. His amateur record was 18–1–0.

Tatsuyoshi turned pro in 1989 and won the Japanese Bantamweight in his fourth professional fight. He won the WBC World Bantamweight Title in his eighth professional fight in 1991, the fastest of any Japanese boxer (Nobuo Nashiro tied this record in 2006, winning the WBA Super Flyweight Title in his eighth fight). However, he was discovered to have a torn retina while training for his first title defense, forcing him into rehabilitation.

Almost a full year after winning the title, Tatsuyoshi fought Victor Rabanales, who had become the WBC Interim Champion during Tatsuyoshi's inactivity. Tatsuyoshi lost by TKO in the ninth round but vowed revenge,[1] claiming it was his twin brother "Joujirou" who had lost the fight. Tatsuyoshi fought Rabanales again on July 22, 1993, for the WBC World Bantamweight Interim Title, defeating Rabanales by 12-round decision. In September of the same year, he was found to have another eye injury; this time a detached left retina, forcing him to give up his interim title and nearly forcing him into retirement. Tatsuyoshi managed to continue his career, making a comeback in July 1994 in Hawaii, knocking out his opponent in three rounds. The WBC returned the interim title to Tatsuyoshi after the fight.

In December, 1994, Tatsuyoshi fought WBC Bantamweight Champion Yasuei Yakushiji. Being a title match between two Japanese fighters, the match generated huge media attention, and Tatsuyoshi was a huge favorite to win. However, he ended with a loss by 12-round decision, losing his interim title.

Tatsuyoshi challenged the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion twice in 1996 and 1997, but lost both times. Many began to believe he was no longer capable of fighting at the world level, and in November 1997, Tatsuyoshi challenged undefeated WBC Bantamweight Champion Sirimongkol Singwangcha, with the intent of retiring if he failed to win. Despite the odds, he won by TKO in seventh round, reclaiming his title after three years.

Tatsuyoshi recorded two title defenses before losing to Veeraphol Sahaprom on December 29, 1998. He challenged Sahaprom in August 1999, but lost again in the seventh round, and announced his retirement after the fight. He changed his mind shortly afterwards and resumed his training, making a comeback fight on December 15, 2002, winning by TKO after more than three years of inactivity. He won again in September 2003, but fell into inactivity again after injuring his left knee. There are no plans for a next fight, but he still trains with his son, Jukiya, who wishes to follow his father into professional boxing.

Professional boxing record

28 fights 20 wins 7 losses
By knockout 14 5
By decision 6 2
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Loss 20–7–1 Thailand Sakai Jockygym TKO 7 (10), 1:03 8 Mar 2009 Thailand Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok
27 Win 20–6–1 Thailand Parakorn Charoendee TKO 2 (10), 2:47 26 Oct 2008 Thailand Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok
26 Win 19–6–1 Mexico Julio Cesar Avila UD 10 26 Sep 2003 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
25 Win 18–6–1 Thailand Saen Sor Ploenchit TKO 6 (10), 1:10 15 Dec 2002 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
24 Loss 17–6–1 Thailand Veeraphol Sahaprom TKO 7 (12), 0:44 29 Aug 1999 Japan Kyocera Dome, Osaka For WBC bantamweight title
23 Loss 17–5–1 Thailand Veeraphol Sahaprom TKO 6 (12), 2:52 29 Dec 1998 Japan Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium, Osaka Lost WBC bantamweight title
22 Win 17–4–1 United States Paulie Ayala TD 6 (12), 3:00 23 Aug 1998 Japan Yokohama Arena, Yokohama Retained WBC bantamweight title;
Unanimous TD after Tatsuyoshi cut from accidental head clash
21 Win 16–4–1 Argentina Jose Rafael Sosa UD 12 8 Mar 1998 Japan Yokohama Arena, Yokohama Retained WBC bantamweight title
20 Win 15–4–1 Thailand Sirimongkol Singwancha TKO 7 (12), 1:54 22 Nov 1997 Japan Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka Won WBC bantamweight title
19 Win 14–4–1 Mexico Ricardo Medina UD 10 26 Jul 1997 Japan Yokohama Arena, Yokohama
18 Loss 13–4–1 Mexico Daniel Zaragoza UD 12 14 Apr 1997 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka For WBC super bantamweight title
17 Win 13–3–1 Mexico Fernando Alanis TKO 10 (10), 1:02 21 Dec 1996 United States Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas
16 Loss 12–3–1 Mexico Daniel Zaragoza TKO 11 (12), 2:47 3 Mar 1996 Japan Yokohama Arena, Yokohama For WBC super bantamweight title
15 Win 12–2–1 Mexico Geronimo Cardoz TKO 8 (10), 2:55 25 Nov 1995 United States Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
14 Win 11–2–1 Mexico Noe Santillana TKO 9 (10), 2:59 26 Aug 1995 United States Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas
13 Loss 10–2–1 Japan Yasuei Yakushiji MD 12 4 Dec 1994 Japan Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya For WBC bantamweight title
12 Win 10–1–1 Mexico Josefino Suarez KO 3 (10), 2:48 2 Jul 1994 United States Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu
11 Win 9–1–1 Mexico Victor Rabanales SD 12 22 Jul 1993 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Won interim WBC bantamweight title
10 Win 8–1–1 Mexico Jose Luis Vegagil KO 2 (10), 1:55 11 Feb 1993 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
9 Loss 7–1–1 Mexico Victor Rabanales TKO 9 (12), 1:19 17 Sep 1992 Japan Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka Lost WBC bantamweight title
8 Win 7–0–1 United States Greg Richardson RTD 10 (12), 3:00 19 Sep 1991 Japan City Gymnasium, Moriguchi Won WBC bantamweight title
7 Win 6–0–1 Philippines Rey Paciones UD 10 19 May 1991 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
6 Draw 5–0–1 Venezuela Abraham Torres PTS 10 17 Feb 1991 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
5 Win 5–0 Philippines Jun Cardinal KO 2 (10), 3:04 18 Dec 1990 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
4 Win 4–0 Japan Shigeru Okabe KO 4 (10), 2:51 11 Sep 1990 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Won Japanese bantamweight title
3 Win 3–0 Philippines Samuel Duran KO 7 (10), 2:10 28 Jun 1990 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
2 Win 2–0 Thailand Somsak Srichan KO 2 (10), 2:18 11 Feb 1990 Japan Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
1 Win 1–0 South Korea Sang Myon Choi KO 2 (6), 0:47 29 Sep 1989 Japan Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka

Personal life

Tatsuyoshi admitted that he was bullied during his early childhood. He overcame it through boxing and never lost a street fight during his teens. He says he never used his fists when street fighting, because a bare knuckle punch could severely injure his opponent. He used open-handed slaps and elbows instead. Because of his experiences, Tatsuyoshi has appeared in public advertisements condemning bullying.

He is known to train exceptionally hard. Trainers used to keep their young boxers away from Tatsuyoshi, not because he might injure the younger boxers in a sparring session, but because the younger fighters might give up after seeing the enormous amount of time Tatsuyoshi spent training.

After losing an amateur bout, he left his gym for about half a year, homeless. He met his current wife at a cafe he stopped by during this period. Tatsuyoshi credits his wife for giving him the strength to return to his gym.

He is friends with comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto of Downtown and has appeared on his show Downtown DX. He is also friends with baseball star Ichiro Suzuki, who has attended several of Tatsuyoshi's fights.

He has appeared numerous times in the popular Japanese boxing manga Hajime no Ippo.

Retirement

Tatsuyoshi turned 37 in May 2007. Tatsuyoshi had suffered several serious injuries, and his management has expressed a desire to not see him take further damage, making it difficult for him to fight in Japan. Tatsuyoshi "resurfaced" in Thailand in 2008 to continue his career abroad.[2] When commentating on televised boxing matches, Tatsuyoshi has shown clear signs of being punch drunk (slurred speech and forgetfulness), worrying his fans.

See also

References

  1. "Rabanales wins WBC bantamweight title". United Press International. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  2. "Joichiro Tatsutoshi". ASIAN BOXING. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
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