Reiya Abe
A lot of Japan's most notable fighters, even on the domestic scene, were good amateurs who made a mark on the national amateur scene before turning professional. Of course amateur success isn't a guarantee of going a long way in the professional professional ranks, but it is a good sign for fighters and typically good amateurs do go a long way as a professionals.
With that in mind it's hard to believe that the promising Reiya Abe (16-2, 8) was a complete flop in the unpaid part of the sport and went 7-8 (1) as an amateur. It was an amateur record that could easily have seen the southpaw being written off as being someone unlikely to go far in the sport but he has really knuckled down and worked hard to get to the point where is now, on the verge of getting a title fight.
Abe's career as a professional began back in June 2013 with a decision win over Tetsuya Hirokawa. The following month Abe would suffer his first loss, losing a razor thin decision to Koki Kobayashi. That loss was quickly put behind Abe and he would end the year with a win in December over Tasuku Nakagawa to move to 2-1.
Having settled into professional boxing in 2013 we saw Abe really get his career going in 2014, as he went 6-0 (4) for the year. Whilst that sounds impressive it was actually even better for Abe who went on to claim the East Japan Rookie of the Year in November, with an opening round KO win against Naoto Moriya. That was bettered only weeks later when he went on claim the All-Japan Rookie of the Year crown with a decision win over Kyohei Tonomoto.
Within 19 months of his debut Abe had racked up an 8-1 (4) record, claimed the Featherweight Rookie of the Year crown and broken into the Japanese rankings. An incredible climb given his poor amateur background. Sadly though the climb would slow in March 2015 when Abe was narrowly out-pointed by Shingo Kusano, who took a majority decision win over the younger man.
Abe bounced back from the loss to Kusano with a really good win over the then unbeaten Ryo Hino in August and then finished the year with a stoppage win against Rokuhei Suzuki, clearly putting the Kusano bout well behind him by the end of the year.
With that in mind it's hard to believe that the promising Reiya Abe (16-2, 8) was a complete flop in the unpaid part of the sport and went 7-8 (1) as an amateur. It was an amateur record that could easily have seen the southpaw being written off as being someone unlikely to go far in the sport but he has really knuckled down and worked hard to get to the point where is now, on the verge of getting a title fight.
Abe's career as a professional began back in June 2013 with a decision win over Tetsuya Hirokawa. The following month Abe would suffer his first loss, losing a razor thin decision to Koki Kobayashi. That loss was quickly put behind Abe and he would end the year with a win in December over Tasuku Nakagawa to move to 2-1.
Having settled into professional boxing in 2013 we saw Abe really get his career going in 2014, as he went 6-0 (4) for the year. Whilst that sounds impressive it was actually even better for Abe who went on to claim the East Japan Rookie of the Year in November, with an opening round KO win against Naoto Moriya. That was bettered only weeks later when he went on claim the All-Japan Rookie of the Year crown with a decision win over Kyohei Tonomoto.
Within 19 months of his debut Abe had racked up an 8-1 (4) record, claimed the Featherweight Rookie of the Year crown and broken into the Japanese rankings. An incredible climb given his poor amateur background. Sadly though the climb would slow in March 2015 when Abe was narrowly out-pointed by Shingo Kusano, who took a majority decision win over the younger man.
Abe bounced back from the loss to Kusano with a really good win over the then unbeaten Ryo Hino in August and then finished the year with a stoppage win against Rokuhei Suzuki, clearly putting the Kusano bout well behind him by the end of the year.
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Although Abe was showing a lot of promise he was being a bit over-looked still. That however ended in 2016 as he had a stellar year that saw the KG Yamato gym fighter really stand out as one to watch. He began the year by ending the unbeaten record of former amateur standout Hikaru Marugame, who had gone 60-14 in the unpaid ranks and had had a stellar career before turning professional. Not only did Abe win but he out boxed Marugame, cut him and clearly won in what was a very impressive performance. That was followed up with Abe getting revenge over Kusano and stopping his former conqueror in the 5th round of a scheduled 8 rounder. Although ruled a TKO Kusano was out from a vicious left hand. He then ended the year with another really impressive win, as he stopped Tsuyoshi Tameda on a show that was available on the asign-boxing website, just like his win over Kusano. The performance against Tameda, a really dangerous boxing-puncher, was nearly punch perfect with Abe controlling the range with his footwork, landing big left hands and eventually breaking down Tameda, something that Simpiwe Vetyeka was unable to do.
Abe would continue to impress in 2017. He began the year with a close win over the talented Joe Noynay, with Noynay giving Abe a really good test, before schooling former world title challenger Satoshi Hosono. The bout with Hosono was aired on tape delay and really gave Abe a big window to impress, which he took en route to a 9th round technical decision win. He used Hosono's aggression against him, out boxed the veteran and shone in a real break out win. It was a win that helped Abe break into the world rankings, move towards Japanese and OPBF title fights and really boost his standing in the sport, in a massive way. To end 2017 Abe took a stay busy win over Methawin Kemthong, who lasted just 70 seconds, as Abe closed out the year and continue his pursuit of a title fight. |
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Entering 2018 Abe is ranked in the top 15 by the IBF at Featherweight, as well as the OPBF and JBC and is really on the verge of a title fight. There's a good chance that if he can score a win in his next outing, on March 2nd against Daisuke Watanabe, then his team will get him a title fight in the summer as Abe continues to rise, and prove that a poor amateur record doesn't mean you can't be a very good professional fighter.
(Image courtesy of kgyamato-gym.com)
(Image courtesy of kgyamato-gym.com)
