On this day...
 
2005-Koji Sato debuts
Noteworthy Japanese Middleweights don't come around a lot so in 2005 things were a little bit exciting when the huge punching Koji Sato made his professional debut, and stopped Francisco Valdez in Las Vegas. Sato would fail to reach the heady heights hoped of him, though he did fight for a world title, losing to Felix Sturm, and was involved in a sensation 2011 bout with Makoto Fuchigami
 
2011-Toshiaki Nishioka vs Mauricio Javier Munoz
The then WBC Super Bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka retained his title with his 6th defense as he stopped Argentinian challenger Mauricio Javier Munoz in the 9th round. The talented "Speed King" would only defend the title once more after this bout, beating Rafael Marquez around 6 months later before vacating the belt. He would then return for one more bout, a year later, against Nonito Donaire. By that point Nishioka looked a shell of the fighter he had once been.
 
2013-Akira Yaegashi vs Toshiyuki Igarashi
The hugely popular Akira Yaegashi became a 2-weight world champion when he defeated former Japanese amateur standout Toshiyuki Igarashi to claim the WBC Flyweight title. This wasn't a great bout, by any stretch, but was a major one for Yaegashi and his career. Sadly for Igarashi it seemed to be the start of the end for him and he was plagued with injuries in the years that followed.
 
2018-Pongsaklek Wonjongkam Vs Manot Comput
Thai legend Pongsaklek Wonjongkam essentially finished his career when he beat Manot Comput, in what was a bout set up literally to get around some red tape in Japan. The Thai former world champion returned at the age of 40, after almost 5 years away from the ring, and up at Super Bantamweight, to make sure he had fought with in the last 3 years to try and secure a professional license to face Koki Kameda later in the year. The JBC saw what was being done and refused to license Wongjonkam, but did allow him to face Kameda in an exhibition bout.

On this day...
 
1943-Fighting Harada's birthday
Boxing Royalty was born on this day in 1943 as Japan's legendary and revered Masahiko Harada, aka Fighting Harada, was born in Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo. Harada would go on to have a truly legendary career, becoming a 2-weight world champion and coming close to being the first man to win titles at Flyweight, Bantamweight and Featherweight. Harada's influence on the sport in Japan is still fight today, more than 50 years after his final bout, and his all action style helped with the Golden Age of Japanese in the 1960's, alongside the like of Hiroyuki Ebihara. Harada would later be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest Asian fighters of all time.
 
1981-Saensak Muangsurin v Chung Jae Hwang
Record setting Thai Saensak Muangsurin had been rushed to a world title in 1975, winning the WBC Light Welterweight title in his 3rd professional bout. Sadly a long Muay Thai career, and a hard but short professional boxing career, had seen him pretty much a shell of his self in the 1970's. His final bout took place on this day in 1981, when he lost to OPBF Welterweight champion Chung Jae Hwang, retiring with a 14-6 (11) professional record. Hwang would remain a force on the regional seen until April 1982. Sadly Hwang was essentially ruined himself by the end of 1982 by some horrifically irresponsible management that had him fighting 7 times in 1981. 
 
1987-Seung Hoon Lee v Jorge Urbina Diaz
After winning the IBF Super Bantamweight title in January 1987 Korean Seung Hoon Lee returned to the ring for his first defense less than 3 months later, where he stopped Mexican-American challenger Jorge Urbina Diaz in 10 rounds to retain the title. In total Lee would record 3 defenses before South Korea ended their relationship with the IBF. Sadly for Lee, a criminally over-looked Korean from one of the countries' golden periods of boxing, he was never able to reclaim a world title after losing the IBF title outside of the ring. He did however fight to a draw with WBC champion Daniel Zaragoza in 1988 before retiring with a 45-6-1 (25) record.
 
2005-Muhammad Rachman Vs Fahlan Sakkreerin
Indonesian fighter Muhammad Rachman successfully defended the IBF Minimumweight title in a bout against former champion Fahlan Sakkreerin. The bout was sadly an anti-climatic one, ending in round 3 when an accidental head clash forced the bout to an early conclusion. This would would end Sakkreerin's career, leaving him with a 54-4-3 (23) record. As for Rachman this was his first defense of the title he had won the previous September, and he would make 2 more before losing to Florante Condes in 2007.

On this day...
 
1952-Yoshio Shirai v Kyoichi Muto
The 1952 clash between Yoshio Shirai and Kyoichi Muto isn't a bout we suspect many will be aware of. In all honesty it's place in history isn't significant, though it is a peculiar fight. It was Shirai's final before before landing a world title bout with Dado Marino, just a few weeks later. Shirai would go on to beat Marino to become the Flyweight title, and so this bout serves a minor footnote as the final tune up bout before Shirai became the first Japanese world champion on May 19th 1952.
 
1974-Vassiliy Jirov's birthday
Kazakh southpaw Vassiliy Jirov is one of the true legends of boxing for his homeland and someone who laid down the track for the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Beibut Shumenov and Zhanat Zhakiyanov. Jirov's career might not have hit the heights of Golovkin's but as an Olmypic gold medal winner and a multi-year reign as the IBF Crusierweight champion it's hard to over-state just how significant Jirov's career was. Also lets not forget had damn brutal his bout with James Toney in 2003 was. That's a must watch for all fight fans!
 
2012-Tepparith Kokietgym vs Tomonobu Shimizu
In 2012 we had a really odd match up caused by the ever confusing WBA which could have left us with "co-champions" had their been no winner. The bout saw WBA Super Flyweights champions Tepparith Kokietgym, the "regular" champion, take on Tomomobu Shimizu, the "champion in recess". Whilst we fully understand the logic behind a "Champion in Recess" Shimizu had been out of action for just 4 months by the time that Tepparith won the title, beating Daiki Kameda. Thankfully the WBA's blushes were saved, at least partially, but Tepparith stopping Shimizu and sending him into retirement. Sadly however lessons weren't learnt and the WBA have continually had multiple champions and watered down their own belts to the point where they have become little more than a joke.

On this day...
 
1958-Chung Il Choi's birthday
Heavy handed Korea Chung Il Choi only had a short, 16 fight, career spanning less than 4 years. Although not a notable fighter, by any stretch, he was a 2-time world title challenger who was certainly fun to watch and explosive. He ended his career with a 14-2 (13) record and managed to ask real questions of Rolando Navarette in 1982, before later facing Rafael Limon. Sadly his short career and lack of success at the top has made him little more than a footnote in boxing history, but he was certainly a fun footnote.
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1977-Saensak Muangsurin vs Guts Ishimatsu
After regaining the WBC Light Welterweight title in October 1976 Saensak Mungsurin would make his second defense as he took on former Lightweight champion Guts Ishimatsu of Japan. Although Ishimatsu was very much a faded fighter, and would retire the following year, he was still a decent name and was less than a year removed from losing the WBC Lightweight title. Sadly for the challenger he wasn't good enough for the stone fisted Thai who stopped him in 6 rounds. 
 
1985-Payao Poontarat vs Kongtoranee Payakaroon
Although not a world title bout the 1985 clash between Payao Poontarat and Kongtoranee Payakaroon is a bout that is genuinely noteworthy. It was the second professional bout for Kongtoranee, the brother of Samart Payakaroon, and it saw him defeat former WBC Super Flyweight champion Payao Poontarat, in what was Poontarat's final pro bout. Whilst Kongtoranee did fail in his two world title fights, he was certainly a world class fighter and beating someone like Poontarat this early was incredibly impressive. A very under-rated win, and an often over-looked bout.

On this day...
 
1971-Masao Oba vs Betulio Gonzalez
Japanese great Masao Oba made his first defense of the WBA Flyweight title when he narrowly out-pointed fantastic Venezuelan fighter Betulio Gonzalez. Oba, one of the greatest "what if's" in boxing would make 4 more defenses before his untimely death in 1973. At the time of his death he was only 23 years old. As for Gonzalez he would go on to become a 3-time Flyweight world champion, and is sadly all too forgotten by modern day fight fans.
 
1972-Muhammad Ali Vs Mac Foster
Rather an odd one here, as it features two American Heavyweights, but it was on this day that the Nippon Budokan played host to "The Greatest" taking on the huge punching Mac Foster. After 15 rounds Muahmmad Ali had easily beaten Foster in what would be Ali's sole fight in Japan. Rather interestingly Foster would later go 2-4 (2) after this bout, whilst Ali would go on to become a genuine legend scoring wins over the likes of Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier and George Foreman in the years that followed this bout.
 
1979-Chung Jae Hwang's debut
Although not a big name, by any stretch, Korean Welterweight Chung Jae Hwang is someone who provided a lot of explosive action in the 1980's. The Korean slugger racked up 28-3 (25) record between 1979, when he debuted, to 1989, when he fought for the final time. Although he never fought for a world title Hwang had 15 bouts for the OPBF Welterweight title, making 13 defenses of the belt between February 1980 and March 1982. Those 13 defenses still stands a record for the OPBF Welterweight title, nearly 40 years on!
 
1984-Yota Sato's birthday
Former WBC Super Flyweight champion Yota Sato was born on this day in 1984. Sato's reign as the WBC world champion was a relatively short one, as he won the title in March 2012 and lost the belt in May 2013 but is was a pretty notable one. His title win came against Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, and saw him dropping Suriyan twice, and ended when Nakornluang forced their option on him, with Srisaket Sor Rungvisai stopping him in 8 rounds. At the time the win for Srisaket didn't get much attention, but a few years later Srisaket would announce himself on the big time with a win over Roman Gonzalez to reclaim the title.
 
1993-Janibek Alimkhanuly's birthday
Another man blowing out his candles today is Kazakh hopeful, and former amateur stand out, Janibek Alimkhanuly was born on this day in 1993. Although yet to make a big mark on the professional scene we do expect big things from the 2013 World Amateur Champion. Fingers crossed we see him getting a big fight sooner rather than later.

On this day...
 
1982-Pone Kingpetch passes away
Thailand's first world champion Pone Kingpetch passed away at the age of 47, from pneumonia and heart failure. The Thai legend, who boasted a 28-7 (9) record, had not only been Thailand's first world champion but was a 3-time Flyweight champion and holds huge wins over Pascual Perez, twice, Mitsunori Seki, Fighting Harada and Hiroyuki Ebihara. 
 
1984-Jung Koo Chang Vs Sot Chitalada I
Korean legend Jung Koo Chang recorded his 3rd defense of the WBC Light Flyweight title as he defeated Thai professional novice Sot Chitalada, in their first bout. The bout saw the Korean take a hard fought win over Chitalada, who was just 4-0 entering this bout. Chang would go on to hold the title until his retirement in 1988. He later came out of retirement and would lost a razor thin rematch to Chitalada in 1990, whilst clearly not the fighter he once was. Chitalada would go on to become a 2-time WBC Flyweight champion and be one of the more notable Thai's of the 80's and early 1990's.
 
1992-Chan Young Park's final bout
Former WBA Bantamweight champion Chan Young Park isn't a fighter we suspect many will be too familiar with, but the Korean fought 40 times from 1980 to 1992. He won his word title in May 1987, stopping Takuya Muguruma, but lost it in his first defense, to the legendary Wilfredo Vazquez. He later moved up in weight and challenged Daniel Zaragoza but lost a split decision before picking up 4 stoppages to close his career with a 33-5-2 (16) record.
 
2001-Z Gorres debuts
In 2001 talented Filipino Z Gorres made his professional debut. The very skilled Fillipino, who was 18 at the time, was regarded very highly by those in his homeland and showed his skills with a 6 round decision win over Rudy Hibaya. He would win 13 in a row before suffering an upset loss to Edgar Rodrigo. He bounced back from that loss and would win the OPBF Super Flyweight title, give Fernando Montiel a tough bout in a 2007 WBO world title fight, marred by the refereeing of Samuel Viruet, before fighting to a draw with Vic Darchinyan. Sadly his career ended after a 2009 win over Luis Melendez, with Gorres collapsing after the bout.