Fight fans of the Japanese scene likely recognise the name "Puma Toguchi". The popular Flyweight from the 1990's was one of the countries biggest stars, and ran up an impressive looking record of 23-4 (19). He was tipped for big things, and whilst he failed to live up the expectations on his shoulders he remained a hugely popular fighter, who was rarely in a dull bout.
 
Born Takato Toguchi in 1969 we suspect that many fans who have seen the name of Puma Toguchi perhaps aren't that familiar with him. Fans maybe aware of his name, without being too aware of the fighter himself. With that in mind, here are 10 facts you probably didn't know about...Puma Toguchi.
 
1-Prior to beginning his career Toguchi dropped out of Nihon University, where he was attending the School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
 
2-As an amateur fighter Toguchi went an incredible 53-5 (40), having trained under the legendary Shinkichi Kaneshiro, who also helped mould the likes of Tsuyoshi Hamada and Satoshi Shingaki. Although not well known in the west Kaneshiro was one of the most important men in Japanese boxing, and was regarded as having an amazing eye for, and ability to develop, talent. 
 
3-Toguchi, along with Katsuya Onizuka and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, made up the "Heisei no sanbagarasu", the Trio of Heisei. Toguchi was the only one of the trio not to win a world title, and in many way's was comparable to Katsutoshi Aoki, who was part of a previous trio dubbed the "Trio of Showa". 
 
4-Toguchi lost in the 1987 Inter High School Flyweight final to Hiroshi Kawashima, who later went on to become the WBC Super Flyweight world champion. Despite the loss Toguchi did get revenge in the professional ranks the following year, stopping Kawashima in the East Japan Rookie of the Year Final.
 
5-In his first 6 bouts Toguchi would beat 2 men who later went on ton win world titles. There was Kawashima, as mentioned, and Manny Melchor, who later won the IBF Minimumweight title. During his career he would also beat former world champions Dodie Boy Penalosa, Tacy Macalos, Eric Chavez and Rolando Pascua
 
6-One thing we've heard a few times in recent years is the JBC indefinitely suspending a fighters license. Toguchi actually suffered that same fate in 1991, after a scheduled fight with Yuri Arbachakov, then fighting as Yuri Chakov, was cancelled. Officially the bout was cancelled due to Toguchi suffering a right ankle sprain, though it appears there was much more to it, much much more to it and he would have a notable falling out with the Victory gym at the time. Rumours circulated that he'd gotten injured whilst drunk, and things were rather a mess at that point for Toguchi, who's suspension lasted more than 2 years. The poster that was being used for this bout is the one we've featured at the top of this article.
 
7-In his first bout back after the suspension he faced former world champion Jesus Rojas, after almost 2 and a half years out and without any type of easy comeback bout
 
8-Despite the issues in 1991, when Toguchi was originally supposed to fight Arbachakov, the two men did finally fight in 1996. That bout saw saw Arbachakov retain the WBC Flyweight title with a 9th round TKO over Toguchi, who fought under his birth name of Takato Toguchi
 
9-In December 1998 Toguchi was pencilled in to fight the then WBA Super Flyweight champion Satoshi Iida. That fight was cancelled when Toguchi had a suspected stroke. It later turned out that he had been misdiagnosed, and it took a lengthy time for him to return to the ring. In his return he was stopped by domestic journeyman Motonari Kashima, in what would be the final bout for both men.
 
10 - During his boxing career Toguchi fought for 4 different gyms and was regarded as a tricky man to handle. 
 
Extra Fact 1 - In 1993 Toguchi married got married, he and his wife had 3 children before getting divorced in 2006.
 
Extra Fact 2 - Toguchi has been suffering from Dementia Pugilistica, and in 2019 the symptoms had worsened to the point where he was having repeated seizures, memory problems, forgot his age and where he lived. Things got so bad that his eldest daughter quit her job to take care of him. Worryingly, due to his health he didn't recognise her.
 
Extra Fact 3 - The 1996 bout between Toguchi and Arbachakov won the Japanese Fight of the Year. Incidentally that same year Arbachakov took the skills Award and former foe Kawashima took the Best Fighter award, essentially the MVP. ​

This past weekend we saw popular Japanese fighter Sho Kimura (19-3-2, 12) take a 2nd round win over fellow former world champion Merlito Sabillo. Following that win Kimura spoke about getting back into the mix for a world title. At the moment it's unclear whether Kimura will be fighting at Flyweight or Light Flyweight, but which ever option he takes there are a lot of potentially exciting opponents out there for him, and some amazing match ups he could be involved in.
 
Here we look at Five For...Sho Kimura, and we'll consider options at both Light Flyweight, where he is currently world ranked, and Flyweight, where he fought at last time. 
 
1-Moruti Mthalane (39-2, 26)
The most likely of the world champions for Kimura would be Moruti Mthalane. Although Kimura isn't ranked by the IBF, at the moment, changes are going to be made shortly, and with IBF #3 Giemel Magramo and #7 Junto Nakatani set to fight for the WBO title there will opening in their rankings. Mthalane has shown a willingness to travel to Japan, his last two bouts have been there, and we wouldn't be too surprised to see him return, if the right offer is made. Kimura could easily be slipped on to a bigger card as the second title bout, and deliver this bout. On paper this would be an amazing fight between two strong, solid, fighters and would see Kimura back at his natural weight, Flyweight. 
 
2-Artem Dalakian (20-0, 14)
At the start of the month Kimura was ranked #10 by the WBA at Light Flyweight, but as we know he's probably better off fighting at Flyweight any way so a move up in weight to take on Artem Dalakian would be a smart one. Given Dalakian's reign so far he needs a legitimate challenge, otherwise his reign will become an even bigger joke, and Kimura would be a genuine challenge, for anyone at Flyweight. Kimura's style would force Dalakian to show all he has in his locker and would bring the type of pressure that the Ukrainian has never seen before. This is the sort of bout that makes sense for both men. It gives Kimura another shot, and gives Dalakian a worth while foe. Also, given Kimura still isn't well backed in Japan financially, he would likely jump at the chance to go to Europe for the bout. It's worth noting only one Japanese fighter has won a world title in Europe before, and that was Naoya Inoue last year.
 
3-Julio Cesar Martinez (15-1, 12)
Bring the violence! WBC Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez has got a bout set for February 29th against Jay Harris, but if he gets through that he'll be looking for a bigger name opponent, and why not former WBO champion Sho Kimura? On paper this would be brutal, two heavy handed, aggressive, exciting fighters meeting center ring and letting their blows go. Martinez, the younger man, would be the favourite and would likely get the bout secured for the US, or Mexico, thanks to his link up with Eddie Hearn, and if you offer Sho Kimura a bout on US soil he would almost certainly snap your hand off. This bout, as part of a big Stateside card in the US would be a great bout, and from a business sense, could help DAZN Japan get a show of interest. Also it would be a rather cheap bout to make, and guaranteed war.
 
4-Elwin Soto (17-1, 12)
if Kimura intends to fight at Light Flyweight we wouldn't like to see him in with Carlos Canizalez again, however a bout with WBO champion Elwin Soto could be brilliant, brutal and thrilling. Although that is dependent on Kimura making 108lbs with no issues. Soto is a talented youngster, with big power, and exciting style. If Kimura can make 108lbs comfortably it would be great to see whether his pressure and tenacity could break down Soto, or whether Soto has the power to chip away and stop Kimura. This bout would be brutal, exciting, action packed and absolutely amazing to watch. Like the Martinez bout this could take place in the US and be part of a DAZN card, this time from Golden Boy Promotions.
 
5-Hiroto Kyoguchi (14-0, 9)
We return to Japan for the final bout on this list, a potential all Japanese show down with WBA "Super" Light Flyweight champion Hiroto Kyoguchi. Kyoguchi isn't expected back until around April, plenty of time for Kimura to prepare for the move down in weight, and would be a very easy bout to make. This would be a brilliant fight for TBS to put on one of their broadcasts, and could work as a major support for a bigger name, such as the potential Kazuto Ioka Vs Kosei Tanaka bout. Kyoguchi is the more rounded boxer, but it would be very interesting to see him trying to beat off Kimura's pressure for 12 rounds. Like the Soto bout however this really depends on how easily Kimura can make Light Flyweight. ​

With a host of big Heavyweight bouts coming up in the next few months, and a huge one this weekend, we thought this week's "Did You Know" should concern a Heavyweight bout, and why not go back to one of the first Heavyweight title bouts held in Japan!

​With that in mind we decided to look at 1973's clash between Heavyweight champion George Foreman and Puerto Rican born challenger Jose Roman, which took place at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

-Foreman won the bout in the opening round, to record his first defense of the WBA and WBC Heavyweight titles.

-The bout came after a 7 month lay off for Foreman, the longest of his career up to this point, though no where near the 10 year lay off he had from 1977 to 1987.
 
-The fight was the first ever World Heavyweight title bout held in Japan, and would be the only one held there until Mike Tyson stopped Tony Tubbs in 1988!
 
-The bout was shown on NET TV in Japan. This channel was the renamed Nihon Educational Television. In the years since the bout the channel has been renamed several times, and is now known as TV Asahi.
 
-Foreman's purse for the fight was $1,000,000, that was 10 times bigger than Roman's purse of $100,000

-It was the third time Roman had faced an opponent called "George" after wins over George Ford and George George Holden. In the years that followed Roman would go on to beat George Jerome, twice, leaving his record against George's at 4-1 (3)

-It took almost 15 years for the next round 1 T/KO defense of the Heavyweight titles, with Mike Tyson stopping Michael Spinks inside a round in 1988. In the time between the bouts James "Bonecrusher" Smith and Michael Dokes had both managed to claim the WBA title inside a round, but there hadn't been an opening round blow out defense.
 
-On a similar note this was the first time the titles had been defended in the opening round since Muhammad Ali's controversial second bout with Sonny Liston
 
-Roman entered the bout as the #9 ranked challenger by both the WBC and the WBA.
 
-This was Roman's only world title fight and his only fight in Asia. More remarkably he was the first Puerto Rican to challenge for a world title!
 
-On the under-card Ricardo Arredondo stopped Morito Kashiwaba to retain the WBC Super Featherweight title. This was Arredondo's fifth bout in Japan, the country that he won the title in in 1971. He would return to the country twice more and lose in both of those there, making this his final win in Japan.
 
-Foreman would return to Japan more than 20 years later, beating Crawford Grimsley of the IBA Heavyweight title. This bout, the Grimsely one, was a bout that didn't take place under the auspices of the JBC but instead the ill fated IBF Japan, hence it being listed as an "unsanctioned show"

This past Thursday we saw the very long awaited return to the ring of the hugely popular Daigo Higa (16-1, 16), who stopped Jason Buenaobra in 6 rounds, after almost 2 years out of the ring. Although expressed some really worrying comments after the bout, at least for fans wanting to see him in the ring long term, his return did leave us salivating at the potential bouts he could be involved in, if he sticks around.
 
As fans we would love to see Higa's motivation return, but for that to happen he'll need fights that excite him and get the juices going. No easy bouts, just tough, testing, exciting ones. With that in mind, here are Five For... Daigo Higa.
 
1-Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-1, 13)
If we're looking at bouts that intrigue us there are very, very, very few times we'll ever list Guillermo Rigondeaux, however we would love to see how his defense, movement, and 39 year old legs hold out against the incessant, high octane pressure of Higa. If Higa needs a fight to excite him, get his motivation up and make him want to fight, a bout against a world level name, for the WBA "regular" title should be the type of bout that does just that. Yes this is an extremely tough bout for Higa, but maybe the type of bout he needs to reignite his love for the sport.
 
2-Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai (48-1-1, 38)
Of course Higa isn't the only fighter who has moved up from Flyweight to Bantamweight in recent years, and another was Thailand's Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai. On paper a bout between Higa and Nawaphon might not excite those looking to see top names clashing but in reality this would be so much fun to watch. Both guys are aggressive, and style wise this should be a lot of fun. Higa would be favoured, but that doesn't change the fact that this style a really fun and interesting bout between two fighters who like to come forward and like to let heavy leather go. More notably than the style is the significance of this bout, with Nawaphon being ranked #2 by the WBC and said to be pushing for a world title fight. Higa Vs Nawaphon in a world title eliminator? Yes please!
 
3-Zolani Tete (28-4, 21)
If Higa can't get a true top level name, then it'd be fun to see him face a recent champion, and an interesting possibility there would be Zolani Tete. Tete was stopped last year, by Johnriel Casimero, but is still an awkward out for anyone in the division, has a decent name and would ask questions of Higa. If Higa isn't motivated then Tete would expose than, jab his head off and take a clear win, likely sending Higa into retirement, but if Higa can get up for this, he could potentially take out Tete and prove his value in the Bantamweight division. It's a very winnable bout, if Higa can get up for it.
 
4-Petch Sor Chitpattana (54-1, 39)
Given Higa's only world ranking at the moment is the WBC it's worth looking at who's around him in the WBC rankings, and once such fighter is Petch Sor Chitpattana, who is ranked really close to Higa. Not only are both world ranked but both men love to come forward, both like to let leather go, both are tough and stylistically this should be something truly special. It would be one of the rare times that Higa would be up against a man who may be able to match him physically, and take his punishment, and would be a really fun fight to watch. It lacks something in terms of importance, but as a spectacle this would be sensational to watch.
 
5-Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-1, 12)
We're back to thinking of Higa against a recent champion, and why not go up against someone known in Japan for being a previous Naoya Inoue opponent right? So with that in mind Emmanuel Rodriguez seems a perfect choice. Like Petch and Nawaphon the Puerto Rican former world champion is ranked in the WBC, in fact he's #3 with the WBC, behind Nonito Donaire and Nawaphon, and a bout between Higa and Rodriguez would be something to get very excited about. Rodriguez is still a solid name in the division, he's world ranked, and would give Higa an opponent who can ask questions of him. Style wise this isn't the best out there for Higa, but it's certainly a very significant bout, and could, potentially, even help him secure a US debut, which could play a major part in helping with his motivation.

​By Oriana Johnson
 
Suicide is a tragedy which can ripple through a family, through friends, through colleagues and the wider community. It's a constant grief which doesn't end. A sad case of death by suicide is of Seiji Takechi [竹地盛治], who was 24 when he died, ending his promising boxing career.
 
Takechi was a Japanese super welterweight who's professional career spanned from 1997 to 2001, during which time he amassed a 10-3-2 (2) professional record. Whilst that alone isn't too remarkable his career left us with a lot of questions, questions that really came to the fore when he ended his career, with his suicide. At the time Takechi was the OPBF Light Middleweight champion, winning a belt in his 4th attempt, and did so by inflicting the first loss on Nobuhiro Ishida.
 
Sadly Takechi never went on to defend the title, or build on his career defining win. Sadly taking his own life only a few months later.
 
Takechi died by hanging, ruled a suicide, which occurred on August 10th 2001, just 3 months after his victory over Ishida. He was found hanged near the canal at the Kotohira-gu Shrine at 6.40am by local police. 
 
The biggest question left after a death by suicide is "why?" Why did they chose to end their life?
 
When it comes to Takechi's death there are rumours of an affair, although unverified, and rumours of an issue present at the Gym where he trained, but these are also unverified. Both are situations where a person might feel they are at rock bottom. 
 
But as stated Takeji Seiji was the OPBF Light Middleweight champion at the time of his death by suicide. A champion can hit rock bottom, and most likely suffered a great deal of pain, either emotionally or through a psychological condition. Another theory, is that Takechi achieved what he wanted to achieve, and after that what was left for him? 
 
This is backed up by research into Japanese suicide's, which explained a large number of suicides by young adults in the country was because they had lost the value in their own life, or existential suffering (Ozawa-de Silva, 2008). Takechi was the champion, and died as the champion. The champion, unfortunately, with no tomorrow. 
 
If you are struggling with your mental health; please seek out support and help from your local crisis centre. You are not alone.

On February 11th 1990 the sport of boxing got one of the biggest upsets in history, as the supposedly invincible Mike Tyson came un-done and was stopped by the unheralded James "Buster" Douglas. The bout is one that every fan knows about and most fans have seen, numerous times. It's a bout that has been debated, due to a supposed long count, for years, and it's still a bout that gets brought up regularly in conversation.
 
Whilst the bout is famous, to say the least, there are a lot of details that are under-reported, with so much focus on the betting upset and the behind the scenes stuff with both fighters. We all know that Douglas's mother died in the build up to the fight whilst Tyson was going through his messy break up with Robin Givens, with the two finalising their divorce in 1989.
 
So today's "Did you know" looks at some details of Tyson Vs Douglas that fans may not be aware of, or may have forgotten.
 
-The bout was actually sold under the banner "Tyson is Back!"
 
-The fight was the second time Tyson had headlined at the massive Tokyo Dome, where he had beaten Tony Tubbs in 1988. As we write this this was actually the last boxing event at the Tokyo Dome, most 30 years ago! Though there is now talk of the venue being used to stage a potential Ryota Murata fight.
 
-On the under-card were two future world champions, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi and Eloy Rojas.
 
-As well as the future world champions the card also featured a trio of world title challengers. Yuichi Hosono, a future 3 time world title challenger, Hitoshi Kamiyama and Noree Jockey Gym, who both challenged for titles once.
 
-On the subject of the under-card and Noree Jockey Gym the show featured Noree's rematch with Naoto Takahashi. The bout failed to live up their thrilling first bout, which had taken place 9 months earlier, and was the start of the end for Takahashi.
 
-This was the only time Douglas, who fought more than 40 times as a pro, would have a professional bout outside of the USA.
 
-According to Compubox Tyson threw just 214 punches by the time was stopped. Given we were almost half way through round 10 this works out as less than 23 punches a round. Douglas on the other hand had thrown 441 punches, and landed more than Tyson had actually thrown!
 
-Although regarded as a ridiculous under-dog Douglas was ranked in the top 5 by the IBF (#2), WBC (#3) and WBA (#4). He was a top contender, though was regarded as such an under-dog to Tyson's destructive reign.
 
-Two of the three judges were Japanese, and both seemed to give Tyson the benefit of the doubt where they could, the third official, American Larry Rozadilla, was the only judge to have Douglas winning.