is a Japanese

kickboxer Kickboxing ( ) is a full-contact hybrid martial art and boxing type based on punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouth guards, shorts, and ...

. He is the former Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight and Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight champion. As of October 2022, he is ranked as the ninth best bantamweight in the world by Beyond Kick.

Kickboxing career

Bantamweight

Early career

Kawakami had a notable amateur career which saw him winning multiple titles including the Shoot Boxing All Japan in 2015. in 2016 he won the WBC Muay Thai All Japan Junior League title and was elected MVP of the event, as a reward he received a one-month trip to Thailand. Kawakami made his professional debut against Syuto Sato at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2016 “Alpinisme vol.1” on August 13, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round standing choke submission. He won his next bout against Tsubasa Onishi at SHOOT BOXING Young Caesar Cup Central 18 on October 2, 2016, by stoppage as well, before being booked to face the unbeaten Koudai at SHOOT BOXING 2017 act.1 on February 11, 2017. He lost the fight by a second-round knockout. Kawakami faced Kazuyuki Fushimi at SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.1 on February 10, 2018, in his first fight of the year. He won the bout by a flying knee knockout, at the 1:10 minute mark of the fourth round. Kawakami next faced Jin Uehira at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2018 “Alpinisme” vol.1 on March 18, 2018. He needed just 79 seconds to stop Uehira with a body shot. Kawakami extended his winning streak to three consecutive fights with an extra round split decision win over Toshiyuki Nitamizu at SHOOT BOXING 2017 Young Caesar Cup Central 22 on May 20, 2018, in the quarterfinals of the Shootboxing bantamweight tournament. Kawakami's three fight winning streak was snapped by the undefeated

Yuki Kasahara is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super featherweight division of Shoot Boxing. A professional competitor since 2017, he is a two-weight Shootboxing champion, having held the Japan Super Featherweight title since 2021, and the ...

at SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.4, who beat him by a first-round knockout, handing Kawakami his second career stoppage loss and eliminating him from the bantamweight tournament. Kawakami was next booked to face Keito Naito at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2019 “Alpinisme” vol.1 on August 10, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 30–29.

Shootboxing bantamweight champion

On November 11, 2019, Kawakami faced Syuto Sato for the inaugural Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight title at Shoot Boxing 2019 Young Caesar Cup Central #26. He won the fight by a second-round knockout, as he floored Sato with a left cross. On November 14, 2020, Kawakami faced the reigning

RISE Rise or RISE may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world * Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3'' * Rise Kujikawa, a vide ...

super flyweight champion

Kazuki Osaki is a Japanese kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter, currently signed with RISE, where he is the current RISE Super Flyweight (-53 kg) World champion and former RISE Super Flyweight (-53 kg) champion. As of May 2025, he is ranked as the world's ...

in a non-title bout at RISE 143. He lost by unanimous decision. Kawakami was scheduled to face the Yuki Kyotani at Rise World Series 2021 Osaka on July 18, 2021, in Osaka. He won the fight by unanimous decision, the three judges scoring the bout 30–29 in his favor.

Featherweight

Kawakami faced Kotaro Yamada at SHOOT BOXING 2021 Young Caesar Cup on December 19, 2021, in his first bout at the featherweight (-57.5 kg) limit. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds, with all three judges scoring the fight 29–29. Accordingly, an extension round was fought, after which Kawakami was awarded a unanimous decision. Kawakami faced

Kaito Kaito is a popular masculine Japanese given name. The name Kaito is a male name of Japanese origin. (written: かいと, カイト, 海斗, 凱斗, 開士, 魁斗, 海翔, 海人, 快斗, 界人, 嘉惟人 or 海都) Notable people with the nam ...

for the vacant Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title at Shoot Boxing 2022 act.2 on April 10, 2022. He won the fight by majority decision, after an extra round was contested. Kawakami faced

Haruto Yasumoto is a Japanese kickboxer and muay thai fighter, currently competing in the featherweight division of RISE, where he is the current champion. He is the former KNOCKOUT RED and WBC Muaythai Japan Featherweight champion. A professional competitor s ...

at RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS on December 25, 2022, in what was his third appearance with

. The bout was ruled a unanimous decision draw after the first three rounds, with all three judges scoring it 30–30. Kawakami was awarded a majority decision, after an extra fourth round was fought. Kawakami faced Gaopayak Y'zdgym at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.1 on February 12, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 30–27. Kawakami made his first Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title defense against Kotaro Yamada at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.2 on April 30, 2023. He lost the fight by majority decision, with two judges awarding Yamada a narrow 50–49 scorecard, while the third judge scored the contest an even 50–50. Kawakami faced the RISE featherweight champion

Keisuke Monguchi Keisuke Monguchi (門口佳佑, born 25 May 1995) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the featherweight division of RISE (kickboxing), RISE, where he is the former RISE (kickboxing)#Featherweight championship, RISE featherweight cham ...

in a non-title bout at RISE World Series 2023 - 1st Round on July 2, 2023. He lost the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the bout 30–28 and 30–29 for Monguchi, while the third ringside official scored it an even 29–29. Kawakami faced

Toma Tanabe Toma Tanabe (born 27 October 2002), better known as Toma (斗麗), is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the featherweight division of K-1. He is a one-time Krush Featherweight title challenger. As of July 2021, he was the #7 ranked ...

at K-1 ReBIRTH 2 on December 9, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–28, after knocking Toma down once in the second round. Kawakami was expected to face Ryusei Kumagai at KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.1 on February 25, 2023. The bout was postponed for KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.2 on April 27, 2024, as Ryusei withdrew due to illness on February 23. The fight was reschedule for KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.2 on April 27, 2024. Kawakami lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Titles and accomplishments

Professional

SHOOT BOXING , commonly written as Shootboxing, is a combat sport. Shoot boxing is also a stand-up fighting promotion company based in Tokyo, Japan. The organization was founded by former kickboxer Caesar Takeshi in 1985. Shootboxing, the combat sport, ...

** 2019 Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight Champion ** 2022 Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight Champion

Amateur

* 2014 Green Boy Fight Welterweight Champion * 2015 Glove Karate Federation All Japan Championship -55 kg Winner * 2015 Shoot Boxing All Japan -55 kg Champion * 2016 WBC Muay Thai All Japan Jr League (U-18) -55 kg Champion & Event MVP

Fight record

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Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

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Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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Koyata Yamada is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super bantamweight divisions of RISE and Shoot boxing. He is the current Shoot Boxing Super Bantamweight (-55kg) champion. As of January 2022 he was the #10 ranked Super Flyweight kickboxer in ...

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Tokyo, Japan Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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Toma Toma or TOMA may refer to: Places *Toma, Burkina Faso, a town in Nayala province * Toma Department, a department in Nayala province *Toma, Banwa, Burkina Faso, a town * Tōma, Hokkaidō, Japan, a town **Tōma Station, its railway station *Toma, a ...

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Osaka, Japan is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third-most populous city in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a populatio ...

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Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...

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Kaito Sakaguchi Kaito Sakaguchi (坂口魁斗, born 28 August 2001), popularly known as Kaito (魁斗), is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super featherweight division of RISE. As of August 2021 he was the #9 ranked Super Flyweight kickboxer in ...

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Kasugai, Aichi is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 306,764, and a population density of 3,306 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . The city is sometimes called Owarikasugai to avoid confusion with other mu ...

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Aichi prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...

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Amateur record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kawakami, Kyo Living people 1999 births Japanese male kickboxers Martial artists from Osaka 21st-century Japanese sportsmen