Boxing In Japan

The history of boxing in Japan began in 1854 when Matthew Perry landed at Shimoda, Shizuoka soon after the Convention of Kanagawa. At that time, American sailors often engaged in sparring matches on board their ships, with their fists wrapped in thin leather. It was the first example of boxing conveyed to Japan. In addition, an ''ōzeki''-ranked sumo wrestler named Koyanagi was summoned by the shogunate, and ordered to fight a boxer and a wrestler from the United States. There were three fought matches, using different martial arts styles, before Perry and other spectators. Koyanagi reportedly won.

History

The first exhibition match named was held in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1887. The first boxing gym was established in Ishikawachō, Yokohama, Kanagawa by and in 1896. After the first tutorial book, was issued in 1900, followed shortly by was opened in Mikage, Kobe by Kenji Kanō in 1909.

After learning boxing in San Francisco, California, since 1906, established in Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo, on December 25, 1921. from Rikkyo University began boxing under Watanabe's management. Ogino in the junior featherweight and in the featherweight were recognized as the first Japanese champions by Nippon Kentō Club in 1922.

In the first Japanese title matches for professional boxers held in April 1924, Fuji Okamoto in the flyweight division and Kintarō Usuda in the lightweight division became titleholders. There was no clear distinction between amateur and professional around that time.

Inauguration of Federation

Simultaneously with whose president was Yūjirō Watanabe, the was established in July 1926.
The first Japanese championships for amateur boxers was held by Kenji Kanō's in 1927. Fuji Okamoto in the bantamweight division and Kintarō Usuda in the welterweight division participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics.

was founded in February 1931 in order to perform the establishment of championships and the development of professional boxers, repeated division and dissolution to become the current Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA). from Waseda University gained popularity and played an active part in those days. Although Japan's boxing was interrupted by the Pacific War, the first Japanese championships after the war was held in 1947.

World title match

Then the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), virtually the only governing body of Japan's professional boxing, was founded in order to prepare Yoshio Shirai's world title match. Its establishment was presented at the Tokyo Kaikan on April 21, 1952. from Waseda University who was the founding president of Teiken Boxing Gym and the president of the Korakuen Stadium, was elected as its first commissioner.

Shirai defeated lineal champion Dado Marino via a unanimous decision in the flyweight division on May 19 of that year, while being watched by 45,000 spectators at the Korakuen Stadium, to become the Japan's first world champion.

WBA and WBC

The JBC joined the NBA (the current WBA) on January 7, 1954. They also joined the WBC since the rematch of Johnny Famechon vs. Fighting Harada on May 9, 1970.

Boxing Magazine

In June 1956, ''Boxing Magazine'', the Japan's oldest surviving boxing journal, was launched by the Baseball Magazine Company. Currently there is only one other monthly boxing journal in Japan, called ''Boxing Beat.'' This has been renamed twice from ''World Boxing'' since 1968.

Pro-Am joint training

Traditionally, the different bodies of amateur and professional boxers had had no exchanges. However, they decided in 2011 to cooperate with each other, beginning with joint training.

From 2011 through 2012, the middleweight boxers had record-breaking performances both in amateur and professional boxing. Nobuhiro Ishida knocked out the previously undefeated James Kirkland at the MGM Grand Las Vegas to be awarded ''The Ring'' Upset of the Year. Ryōta Murata secured the silver medal in the World Amateur Boxing Championships