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June 9th 1980-Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Royal Kobayashi (31-6, 25) vs Takao Maruki (31-10-6, 15) In the summer of 1980 former world champion Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林], who sadly died quite recently, took on Takao Maruki [天熊丸木]. Comin in to this one Kobayashi was the reigning OPBF Featherweight champion.
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July 26th 1979-Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Royal Kobayashi (27-5, 22) vs Hikaru Tomonari (8-4-1, 4) Back in 1979 former world champion Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林] took on future 2-weight Japanese national champion Hikaru Tomonari [友成光] October 18th 1981-Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Royal Kobayashi (35-7, 27) vs Jung Han Hwang (3-0, 2) Back in the 1970's Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林] was once of Japanese boxing's most exciting fighters, and he was dubbed the "KO Maker" due to his power. In 1981, when he was the OPBF Featherweight champion, he travelled to South Korea and faced novice Korean professional Jung Han Hwang [황정한 ]. October 9th 1976-Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan Royal Kobayashi (20-2, 17) vs Rigoberto Riasco (24-5-4, 13) In October 1976 Japanese Olympian Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林] faced off with WBC Super Bantamweight champion Rigoberto Riasco, with the two men clashing in Tokyo. For Kobayashi this was his second shot at a world title, after a loss to Alexis Arguello a year earlier, whilst Riasco was seeking his third defense of the title he had won in April 1976. Interestingly just a day after this bout Yoko Gushiken would go on to claim the WBA Light Flyweight title, which he defended an impressive 13 times. May 19th 1981-Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Royal Kobayashi (34-6, 27) vs Dae Hwan Lee (8-6, 3) II In late 1980 OPBF Featherweight champion Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林] struggled to a narrow decision win over Korean challenger Dae Hwan Lee [이대환]. The following year they clashed again, with Lee looking to avenge his narrow defeat to the former Japanese world champion. November 1976-Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Royal Kobayashi (21-2, 18) vs Dong Kyun Yum (46-2-6, 20) In 1976 Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林], the then WBC Super Bantamweight champion travelled over to Korea to make his first defense, taking on local veteran Dong Kyun Yum [염동균]. Sadly this is a very incomplete version of the fight, with only a round of footage, but given the quality and rareness of the bout we felt it was worthy of inclusion. January 19th 1978-Municipal Gymnasium, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan Royal Kobayashi (24-3, 21) Vs Wilfredo Gomez (17-0-1, 17) After a short reign as the WBC Super Bantamweight champion in 1976 and 1977 Royal Kobayashi [ロイヤル小林] tried to reclaim the title, as he took on huge punching Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gomez October 18th 1981-Munhwa Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea Royal Kobayashi (35-7, 27) vs Jung Han Hwang (3-0, 2) In 1981 former world champion Royal Kobayashi travelled to Seoul to defend the OPBF Featherweight title against novice Korean professional Jung Han Hwang Through much of the 1970's Royal Kobayashi was a staple on the world title scene and actually held the WBC Super Bantamweight title, at least for a while. Unfortunately for Kobayashi his first memory of fighting at world level painful, to say the last. It was painful because Kobasyhi, a very competent fighter, met Alexis Arguello, a very special fighter. And was battered. And we mean battered. As Arguello lived up to his reputation as fearsome puncher and almost broke Kobayashi in half with some vicious and sickening body shots. This was just Arguello going about business but he was good at business and we can see how he has rubbed off on current Nicaraguan star Roman Gonzalez, a fighter who is regularly in action in Japan doing similar destruction jobs on Japanese fighters. (Video courtesy of BoxTv) |
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