Hideyuki Ohashi

When we talk about great Japanese fighters we typically think of Fighting Harada, Jiro Watanabe, Hiroyuki Ebihara, Hozumi Hasegawa and Kuniaki Shibata. One name that is sometimes missing from that list is Hideyuki Ohashi (19-5, 12) who is probably better known internationally for his work as a promoter rather than as a fighter. Saying that however he was a fantastic fighter back in the 1980's and early 1990's who faced a real who's who in a 24 fight career that saw him compete in 7 world title fights, in 8 years and face some true all-time greats. As a promoter he is one of the leading figures in Japan right now and is someone who is looking like he will cultivate the next generation of Japanese fighters.
Ohashi was born in 1965 in Yokohama City, Kanagawa. And quickly emerged as a Japanese fighter worthy of attention. He had been an excellent amateur, competing both domestically and internationally. As a teenager he represented Japan at the 1985 King's Cup in Bangkok and had hoped to go to the Olympics before losing in a domestic qualifying event against Mamoru Kuroiwa.
Following his amateur career Ohashi signed with the Yonekura gym, which was run by Kenji Yonekura and had been set up in 1963.
Under Yonekura the then 19 year old Ohashi would make his debut, on February 12th 1985 Ohashi would make his professional debut. Like many top amateur from Japan he would begin his career fighting in 6 round bouts and faced off with Masakatsu Aikata. The talented Ohashi blew his opponent away in just 145 seconds.
The youngster would fight his second bout just 3 months later, taking an 8 round decision over Hideto Osanai. It was a huge step up but Ohashi would shine, showing had stamina as well as power, and his team weren't waiting around as they put him back in action the following August. In what was his third bout he stopped former Japanese Light Flyweight champion Tadashi Kuramochi inside a round, dropping him 3 times, in what was scheduled as a 10 round contest. What made that performance particularly impressive was that Kuramochi had gone 12 round with the legendary Jung Koo Chang the previous December in a WBC Light Flyweight world title fight.
Ohashi's busy 1985 would continue with him facing Shin Sayama, aka Masato Tanaka, who was dropped 4 times en route to a 3rd round KO loss.
Ohashi was born in 1965 in Yokohama City, Kanagawa. And quickly emerged as a Japanese fighter worthy of attention. He had been an excellent amateur, competing both domestically and internationally. As a teenager he represented Japan at the 1985 King's Cup in Bangkok and had hoped to go to the Olympics before losing in a domestic qualifying event against Mamoru Kuroiwa.
Following his amateur career Ohashi signed with the Yonekura gym, which was run by Kenji Yonekura and had been set up in 1963.
Under Yonekura the then 19 year old Ohashi would make his debut, on February 12th 1985 Ohashi would make his professional debut. Like many top amateur from Japan he would begin his career fighting in 6 round bouts and faced off with Masakatsu Aikata. The talented Ohashi blew his opponent away in just 145 seconds.
The youngster would fight his second bout just 3 months later, taking an 8 round decision over Hideto Osanai. It was a huge step up but Ohashi would shine, showing had stamina as well as power, and his team weren't waiting around as they put him back in action the following August. In what was his third bout he stopped former Japanese Light Flyweight champion Tadashi Kuramochi inside a round, dropping him 3 times, in what was scheduled as a 10 round contest. What made that performance particularly impressive was that Kuramochi had gone 12 round with the legendary Jung Koo Chang the previous December in a WBC Light Flyweight world title fight.
Ohashi's busy 1985 would continue with him facing Shin Sayama, aka Masato Tanaka, who was dropped 4 times en route to a 3rd round KO loss.
Sadly for Ohashi his impressive start would end in early 1986, when he suffered a surprise loss to Korean visitor Bong Jun Kim, who defeated Ohashi with a 10 round decision. At the time that was a real surprise, given how highly Ohashi was thought of in Japan, given that Kim would go on to claim the WBA Minimumweight title in 1989, and hold it until 1991 when he lost it to Hi Yong Choi, the loss was certainly not a terrible one looking back on it.
Ohashi would immediately bounce back from the loss by claiming his first title, the Japanese Light Flyweight title, just 3 months later, when he out pointed Yoshiaki Nojima for the previously vacant title. Following his domestic title win Ohashi would have his first world title challenge, taking on Korean icon Jung Koo Chang in Incheon. Chang, the then WBC Light Flyweight champion, was making his 11th defense against the then 5-1 Ohashi.Not only was Chang a long established champion but he was 31-1 as a professional, had avenged his sole defeat and was on a 4 year unbeaten run. Ohashi put up a good effort against the legendary Korean, countering Chang's heavy shots well at times and even reddening Chang's face, but was was broken down by Chang's relentless pressure. With a busted, bloodied and swollen face Ohashi was stopped in round 5, having had the fight beaten out of him in an all out classic. Following the loss to Chang we saw Ohashi return to Japan and record 3 domestic wins, stopping Sayama in a second clash between the two men, out pointing Yasutaka Sakurai over 10 rounds then reclaiming the Japanese Light Flyweight title, with a decision win over Tomohiro Kiyuna. The winning run from Ohashi earned him a second shot against Chang, this time at home in Japan, and much like the first bout he he put on a very gallant display before being broken down by Chang's power and relentless aggression. The heart of Ohashi was incredible, as he pulled himself off the canvas 7 times, before being stopped on the 8th knockdown. Having come up short in two Light Flyweight world title bouts, to one of the greatest ever fighters in the division, Ohashi moved down in weight, to compete at Minimmweight. It was there that he found real success. After scoring some confidence building wins, following his second loss to Chang, Ohashi would get a show at WBC Minimumweight champion Jum Hwan Choi in February 1990. Choi had been one of the fighters to move down in to have success, first holding the IBF Light Flyweight title, from 1986 to 1988, before taking the WBC Minimumweight title in 1989. The bout with Ohashi was Choi's first defense and it was a solid back and forth fight, until round 9 when Ohashi landed a brutal body shot that dropped Choi, The Korean continued but was dropped again with a body shot moments later and was unable to beat the count. In his first defense Ohashi defeated Thai Napa Kiatwanchai, who had previously taken the WBC title from Hiroki Ioka. Ohashi would be involved in another thrilling contest and come out on top, taking a 12 round decision over his Thai foe, to avenge Ioka's two losses to the Thai and really build up hope that we'd get an Ohashi Vs Ioka bout. Sadly would never materalise. In part that was due to Ohashi losing the title in late 1990, when he faced Mexican legend Ricardo Lopez, who dominated the Japanese fighter, scoring 3 knockdowns en route to a 5th round TKO win. With the victory Lopez would claim his first world title, and take a huge step towards become the star he would be. The loss to Lopez saw Ohashi consider retirement, though he would continue his career, and would rebuild again, which he did that through 1991, scoring 3 low key wins. The rebuilding would continue into 1992 though by the it seemed like Ohashi had begin to eye up one more title fight. |
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Ohashi's wait for a another world title shot would end in October 1992, when he got the chance to face WBA Minimumweight champion Hi Yong Choi, then 14-0, at the Kokugikan. Coming in to the bout Choi had already made 4 defenses of the title and was building a reputation as a real talent. He was good enough to over-come Ohashi though, with the Japanese fighter becoming a 2-time champion with a unanimous decision over the Korean, who would later claim the WBA Light Flyweight title.
Sadly for Ohashi his second reign wouldn't even last 4 complete months, as he lost the title on February 10th 1993 as he came up short against unbeaten Thai Chana Porpaoin in a majority decision. Although one judge had the bout close it seemed like the Thai had easily done enough to deserve the win and to take the title. Impressively Porpaoin's own reign would see him hold the title until December 1995, when he lost it by split decision to Rosendo Alvarez.
The title loss would be Ohashi's final bout. He had intended to continue his career but an eye issue was discovered which ultimately led to him retiring. He would hold a press on February 7th 1994 to officially announce his retirement, almost 9 years after his debut bout.
Although his record of 19-5 (12) will not go down as a legendary record Mr Ohashi would continue to be regarded very highly and would later set up the Ohashi Gym. The gym is now one of the top ones in Japan and promotes the likes of Naoya Inoue and Akira Yaegashi. He has also held major positions within the Japanese boxing community and has worked alongside the Japanese Boxing Federation to let amateurs and professionals train together. His work as a promoter is seen as one of the keys for the coming in Japan and he has managed to sign top names on a regular basis whilst holding regular shows under the Phoenix Battle banner, with one of his nicknames as a fighter being the “Phoenix”.
(Image courtesy of the JPBA and Sponichi)
Sadly for Ohashi his second reign wouldn't even last 4 complete months, as he lost the title on February 10th 1993 as he came up short against unbeaten Thai Chana Porpaoin in a majority decision. Although one judge had the bout close it seemed like the Thai had easily done enough to deserve the win and to take the title. Impressively Porpaoin's own reign would see him hold the title until December 1995, when he lost it by split decision to Rosendo Alvarez.
The title loss would be Ohashi's final bout. He had intended to continue his career but an eye issue was discovered which ultimately led to him retiring. He would hold a press on February 7th 1994 to officially announce his retirement, almost 9 years after his debut bout.
Although his record of 19-5 (12) will not go down as a legendary record Mr Ohashi would continue to be regarded very highly and would later set up the Ohashi Gym. The gym is now one of the top ones in Japan and promotes the likes of Naoya Inoue and Akira Yaegashi. He has also held major positions within the Japanese boxing community and has worked alongside the Japanese Boxing Federation to let amateurs and professionals train together. His work as a promoter is seen as one of the keys for the coming in Japan and he has managed to sign top names on a regular basis whilst holding regular shows under the Phoenix Battle banner, with one of his nicknames as a fighter being the “Phoenix”.
(Image courtesy of the JPBA and Sponichi)
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