Ryosuke Iwasa
Courtesy of http://www.celes-gym.com
One of the best things about young fighters from the East is that they aren't protected for years. The Japanese promoters seem to have a sink or swim mentality at their core and whilst it can seem harsh on the fighters from an outside view point it does seem to work for many fighters who seem to see it as an honourable thing and the right way to approach their boxing career. After all what is the point in having dreams if you're not willing to take the steps to reach them? What is the point in competing if you don't want a challenge? What is the point in boxing if not to test yourself against fellow fighters?
One fighter who has had to suffer an early career loss though hasn't let it really effect his career is Japanese Bantamweight Ryosuke Iwasa (22-2, 14) [弘樹椎野] who many are tipping as a nailed on future world champion and a man with so much potential that the loss on his record doesn't matter. It's not the "0" that makes a fighter but his skills, achievements and challenges.
Like many young Japanese fighters over the past few years, such as Naoya Inoue and Kazuto Ioka, Iwasa was always going to be fast tracked. He was, like Ioka and Inoue, a stand out amateur and one of the few fighters to achieve the "Triple Crown" of winning High School, Interscholastic and National Festival titles in the unpaid ranks. That achievement, and his amateur record of 60-6 (42) said it all, Iwasa was an amateur stud.
Having established himself as a force, domestically, on the amateur stage Iwasa seemed to know that his future was in the professional ranks rather than staying amateur. Despite being just 18 he had made his decision to take off the headgear and the vests.
Iwasa made his debut on August 2nd 2008, more than 4 months before his 19th birthday. As with many highly touted amateurs in Japan Iwasa jumped straight into a 6 rounder and managed to stop Shinya Takahashi in 5 rounds. Takahashi had never previously been stopped in 9 bouts and so this was a solid statement from the talented and young Iwasa.
Just 2 months after Iwasa's debut he managed to record his second victory as he over-came Mexican Edgar Allende via a 6 round decision.
One fighter who has had to suffer an early career loss though hasn't let it really effect his career is Japanese Bantamweight Ryosuke Iwasa (22-2, 14) [弘樹椎野] who many are tipping as a nailed on future world champion and a man with so much potential that the loss on his record doesn't matter. It's not the "0" that makes a fighter but his skills, achievements and challenges.
Like many young Japanese fighters over the past few years, such as Naoya Inoue and Kazuto Ioka, Iwasa was always going to be fast tracked. He was, like Ioka and Inoue, a stand out amateur and one of the few fighters to achieve the "Triple Crown" of winning High School, Interscholastic and National Festival titles in the unpaid ranks. That achievement, and his amateur record of 60-6 (42) said it all, Iwasa was an amateur stud.
Having established himself as a force, domestically, on the amateur stage Iwasa seemed to know that his future was in the professional ranks rather than staying amateur. Despite being just 18 he had made his decision to take off the headgear and the vests.
Iwasa made his debut on August 2nd 2008, more than 4 months before his 19th birthday. As with many highly touted amateurs in Japan Iwasa jumped straight into a 6 rounder and managed to stop Shinya Takahashi in 5 rounds. Takahashi had never previously been stopped in 9 bouts and so this was a solid statement from the talented and young Iwasa.
Just 2 months after Iwasa's debut he managed to record his second victory as he over-came Mexican Edgar Allende via a 6 round decision.
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Having had 11 rounds of experience in his first 2 bouts Iwasa swiftly took out his next 2 opponents, taking just a combined 3 rounds to stop both Ginzo Hanaki and Worawut Muangsima and move his record to 4-0 (3). By now Iwasa was no longer competing in 6 rounders but actually 8 rounders and in just his 5th professional contest he was forced past 6 rounds as Falazona Fidal extended Iwasa into round 7 before Marvin Tampus took Iwasa all 8 rounds.
With a record of 6-0 (4) and with experience of going 8 rounds it was clear Iwasa was going to be swiftly moved up the Japanese rankings and moved into a Japanese Bantamweight title fight. He did just that by scoring stoppages over both Yuki Sato and Kinshiro Usui. The victory over Usui saw Iwasa becoming the mandatory challenger for the Japanese title and also winning the "MVP" at the Strongest Korakuen. Aged just 21 at that point Iwasa was just 8-0 (6) and had fought in just 35 rounds of professional boxing. Despite his inexperience he had earned his right to fight for the Japanese title and in March 2011 he took that opportunity as he battled the then Japanese champion Shinsuke Yamanaka. Unfortunately for Iwasa his inexperience, as well as the fact Yamanaka is an incredible talent, saw Iwasa picking up his sole defeat as he was stopped in 10 rounds by the defending champion. Whilst Yamanaka was the Japanese champion back then no would would have imagine just how good he would become. At the time of Iwasa entering the ring with him Yamanaka was just 13-0-2 and defending his title for the first time. Since then however Yamanaka has become one of the most dominant Bantamweights on the planet and the WBC champion. Looking back the loss to Yamanaka isn't anything Iwasa should be ashamed of and showed just how good both fighters were. Just 8 months after Iwasa had lost to Yamanaka he was given a second Japanese title opportunity. This time Iwasa fought Japanese based Filipino Jerope Mercado for the vacant title and this time he took the title with a clear and wide decision. Iwasa's reign as Japanese champion lasted just 2 defenses, both successful including a stoppage win over Kentaro Masuda, before he relinquished the title to focus on bigger and harder challenges. These included a bout with former world title challenger David De La Mora, who had given Koki Kameda very close run for his money. De La Mora was supposed to be a good test for Iwasa but the Japanese youngster just shut out his Mexican opponent and won every round of the bout. Having given up his Japanese title Iwasa seemed to know that the next step was the OPBF title. The Japanese fighter waited his turn and stayed active with "stay busy fights" against Marjohn Yap and Jecker Buhawe. By the end of 2013 he had waited long enough and got his opportunity against the big hitting Hiroki Shiino. The bout, on paper, looked brilliant. Shiino was a destructive puncher and Iwasa, whilst a solid puncher himself, was a better boxer. As it turned out the boxing won Iwasa the bout with Shiino struggling to land anything notable on Iwasa who showed his class. Iwasa returned to the ring for the first defense of his OPBF Bantamweight title in March 2014 when he narrowly over-came Filipino Richard Pumicpic who proved to be a very tough and testing opponent. Although it wasn't the most impressive performance by the Japanese fighter it was further proof that he can deal with difficult opponent and it was a fantastic learning experience against a fighter who came to beat him and gave him hell as a result. Although the performance against Pumicpic was disappointing we've since seen Iwasa back in form stopping both stopping Rommy Wassar and Ricardo Roa in the second round. The fights may have both ended in the second but they were very different fights with the Wassar bout being a staying busy fight whilst the bout with Roa was a late replacement bout after Sergio Perales pulled out of a world title eliminator with Iwasa on short notice. Sadly for Iwasa his first shot at a world title ended in an unsuccessful manner as he was stopped by Englishman Lee Haskins in a bout for the IBF "interim" Bantamweight title. The bout was Iwasa's first away from home and he seemed to look lost against Haskins' unique style. He has however bounced back well scoring a win over Marlon Arcilla the following November and has since notched up wins against Dennis Tubieron and Patomsith Pathompothong and it seems clear now that he will be continuing his career at 122lbs if not 126lbs. Iwasa combines speed and power excellently with solid boxing skills. He fights from a southpaw stance and is seriously dangerous with with both hands. He was, prior to the Yamanka fight, a very aggressive fighter though appears to have learned from that experience and is a much more well rounded and patient fighter now than he once was. A loss for some fighters can see them cast aside, for Iwasa his loss was a learning experience and arguably the best thing that could ever have happened to him. The video below, courtesy of Gentidori, shows Iwasa's bout against Hiroki Shiino. |
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