Ryuji Hara
Courtesy of boxrec.com
The Japanese Minimumweight scene has been one of the very best in recent years thanks to the likes of Kazuto Ioka, Katsunari Takayama and Ryo Miyazaki and it looks like it's only going to get better thanks to the likes of Ryuji Hara (19-2, 11) a former Japanese and OPBF champion
Aged just 24 Hara has been tipped for the top by many since his days in the unpaid ranks where he proved to be a sensational fighter. In fact in his 38 bouts as an amateur Hara won 36 (18 by stoppage) as he claimed various national titles and proved to be a talented prodigy.
In February 2010 Hara began his professional career, aged just 19 and swiftly stopped Thai Wittaya Sithsaithong who lasted just 161 seconds. It was obvious from his debut fight that Hara was quick, unexpectedly powerful and very highly skilled though his Thai opponent had, admittedly, been limited.
Before the end of 2010 Hara had raced out to 5-0 (3) and had claimed the highly regarded All Japan Rookie of the Year. Despite still just being a baby in terms of being a professional boxer, Hara had already defeated 2 unbeaten opponents in the shape of Ken Agena, then 4-0, who was beaten in a 4 round, and Shuhei Ito, then 9-0, who was stopped in 5 rounds. The win in the Rookie of the Year had really Hara grab the attention of the Japanese boxing public.
Aged just 24 Hara has been tipped for the top by many since his days in the unpaid ranks where he proved to be a sensational fighter. In fact in his 38 bouts as an amateur Hara won 36 (18 by stoppage) as he claimed various national titles and proved to be a talented prodigy.
In February 2010 Hara began his professional career, aged just 19 and swiftly stopped Thai Wittaya Sithsaithong who lasted just 161 seconds. It was obvious from his debut fight that Hara was quick, unexpectedly powerful and very highly skilled though his Thai opponent had, admittedly, been limited.
Before the end of 2010 Hara had raced out to 5-0 (3) and had claimed the highly regarded All Japan Rookie of the Year. Despite still just being a baby in terms of being a professional boxer, Hara had already defeated 2 unbeaten opponents in the shape of Ken Agena, then 4-0, who was beaten in a 4 round, and Shuhei Ito, then 9-0, who was stopped in 5 rounds. The win in the Rookie of the Year had really Hara grab the attention of the Japanese boxing public.
|
Hara kept up his excellent level of activity through 2011 as he amassed a further 5 victories, all by stoppage, to move to 10-0 (8) and climb up the JBC's (Japanese Boxing Commission) rankings as he made a beeline for the Japanese Minimumweight title.
Going in to the end of the 2011 Takuya Mitamura was the Japanese national champion having claimed a belt vacated by Akira Yaegashi, a stablemate of Hara's at the Ohashi Gym. It wasn't long until Mitamura himself had vacated the title so that he could fight for the WBA "interim" world title. With Mitamura vacating the belt it gave Hara, the then #1 JBC ranked fighter, a chance at the belt, though he'd need to come through against veteran Kenichi Horikawa, the then #2 ranked fighter. In the first 10 round bout of Hara's career he out pointed Horikawa to claim the belt, though was given a stiff test, especially late as Horikawa showed a firmer understanding of the 10 round distance. Hara showed off his clean boxing and his excellent movement early in the bout though in the final few rounds he was forced under solid pressure. After claiming the national in October 2012 Hara made 3 defenses of the belt. The first of those saw Hara defeating the under-rated Yuma Iwahashi in a very tight bout that saw Hara dropped en route to the decision. The victory, whilst fair, did leave a number of fans asking questions about Hara's toughness, though he did prove his heart. As a fighter who was still developing in to a man it was fair to say that Hara wasn't yet a man but instead a very talented boy. Hara made the second defense of his title belt by defeating Shuhei Ito in a tough decision. This was the second meeting between the two men who first clashed in 2010 with Hara claiming a 5th round TKO this time however things were much tougher for Hara who took a highly competitive decision over Ito. The third defense by Hara saw him defeating the experienced Takashi Kunishige, a former world title challenger himself. Despite being 37 Kunishige gave Hara a real scare dropping him several times before Hara managed to claim a decision in what was a much tougher than expected title defense. Rather than continue to defend the Japanese title Hara gave up the belt and successfully claimed the OPBF title in his first fight of 2014. He won that belt by out pointing experienced Filipino Donny Mabao via a hard fought 12 majority decision. Although Mabao had failed to make weight Hara was still successful and took the biggest step up in his career so far. Unfortunately for Hara his OPBF title reign came to an end in his first defense as he attempted to derail the fast rising career of the sensational Kosei Tanaka. Tanaka, who has been compared to Hara's highly regarded stablemate Naoya Inoue, stopped Hara in the 10th round of a truly fantastic contest that showed the difference between very good and truly exceptional. On his return to the ring Hara took on limited Thai Petchnamchao Sor Sakulwong and bounced back with a very good 2nd round TKO win. Despite being dropped in the opening round Hara fought back well and broke down his Thai foe with vicious body shots that quickly took their toll. Following the win over Petchnamchao Hara got a second shot at a world title, though unfortunately for him he was stopped by the then IBF champion Katsunari Takayama, who took him out in 8 rounds. The video below, thanks to Yalter777 shows Hara's bout with Yokthong Kokietgym (AKA Yokthong Pornchaijit) and shows off Hara ability to finish a fight when he lands the right punch. |
|
