is a former Japanese professional boxer in the

featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

(126 lb) division. He is a former WBC world featherweight champion.

Childhood and early career

Koshimoto's parents divorced shortly after he was born, and Koshimoto was raised single-handedly by his father. He played baseball during his early teens, but took up boxing when his father founded a boxing gym in his local town. His father would be his trainer throughout his amateur and professional career. His amateur record was 6-6 (6 RSC).

Professional career

Koshimoto made his debut in November 1992. In 1996, he won the Japanese featherweight title, which he defended 6 times before returning. In January, 2001, he challenged Freddie Norwood for the WBA featherweight title, but lost by 9th-round TKO. This was his first professional loss. Later that year, he won the OPBF featherweight title, which he defended 7 times before returning. Koshimoto got his second world title shot on January 29, 2006, fighting WBC featherweight champion Injin Chi. He won by 12-round decision, becoming the oldest Japanese boxer to win a world title, at 35 years of age. Koshimoto was paid almost nothing for the fight, since his gym had funded all the money needed for the title match. On July 30, 2006, he fought WBC Youth Champion

Rodolfo López Rodolfo Omar López Romero (born September 18, 1983) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 2000 to 2014. He held the WBC featherweight title in 2006. Professional career Vs. Koshimoto López captured the WBC featherweight ...

for his first defense, losing by 7th-round TKO. Koshimoto was hospitalized after the fight, and promptly announced his retirement. His record was 39-2-2 (17KOs).

Professional boxing record

Post retirement

His father and trainer, Hidetake Koshimoto, was head of the Fukuoka Boxing Gym, and he replaced his father after his retirement. He currently trains aspiring boxers at the gym.

References

External links