Attack and Knock Out

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Super Lightweight Championship has been scheduled for September 9. The title eliminator held last November ended in a draw. My team believed we were winning, so I didn’t push the attack. Attacking can lead to counter punches and potentially getting knocked down, so I avoided taking that risk. However, the result was a draw. I was very frustrated, thinking we had won but ending up with a draw. In the past, I’ve won critical matches by attacking and knocking out my opponent. However, since I started focusing on avoiding punches, my boxing style has become more risk-averse. This upcoming challenge for the championship is a must-win match. I am determined to attack and knock out my opponent.

Japanese referees are fair, so in matches held in Japan, if a foreign fighter is dominant, they will be awarded the points. However, I have heard that in Russia, there can be significant home advantage in the judging. To avoid losing on points despite winning the fight, I am prepared to take risks and go for the knockout. My opponent, Eduard Troyanovsky, appears rough and unpredictable in past match footage, so I am fully focused on preparing countermeasures.

Invited by a Friend

I didn’t start boxing because I liked it. When I was in junior high, a friend I played doubles with in the badminton club was inspired by the Japanese TV show “Gachinko Fight Club” and recruited me, “I would love to try it with you!” That’s how it all started. From then on, I enjoyed training with my friend as a team, which brings us to today. I once took a break from boxing and got a job after graduating from university. I planned to accomplish something in Tokyo and then return to my hometown in Iwate, but I was assigned to the Chiba branch. After a year of feeling frustrated and thinking things over, I realized that boxing was the only thing I could do. However, I also think that boxing isn’t everything that I want to do.I always rely on interpreters, so I want to study English, and there are many other things I want to learn. When you become number one, you get to meet various people, and I’m enjoying that now.

From the time I started boxing as an amateur until I participated in the world title eliminator, I thought I would never compete in a world match. Therefore, I refrained from saying, “I will become a world champion.” I don’t want to say things I don’t truly believe. I dislike people who aren’t even ranked but claim, “I will be a world champion.” I don’t want to be like that. Until the opportunity for the title eliminator came, I didn’t have the concept of the “world” in my mind. But when I realized that winning could make me a world champion and that I had come this far with the support of my gym, my mindset changed to “I want to conquer the world.”

Actively Gathering Information

To build up my body and avoid being overpowered, I started weight training about two years ago. I have a personal contract with a mixed martial arts trainer and am learning from the basics. Generally, I think boxers have limited knowledge about training. In contrast, mixed martial arts disciplines like K-1 and kickboxing have grown rapidly by actively incorporating a wealth of information, resulting in a vast amount of knowledge. I train at the gym six days a week, with two days dedicated to weight training and two days to long-distance running. I believe my training hours are fewer compared to other athletes. Sundays are completely off, and I take an additional rest day depending on my body’s fatigue. Now at 30 years old, I pay more attention to stretching and warm-ups to prevent injuries.

Besides training, I read a lot of books. This helps improve my writing skills, allowing me to communicate more effectively when speaking to others. Knowledge needs to be expressed to be truly internalized. I write down my goals and note any ideas on how to achieve them. Interestingly, the phrase “world champion” doesn’t appear in my notebook. I believe that achieving each immediate goal will eventually lead to becoming a world champion. If I set my sights solely on becoming a world champion, my world wouldn’t expand after reaching that milestone. Therefore, I think it’s essential to train like a champion even before becoming one.

Winning the Championship Belt

When I become a world champion, I believe it will inspire those around me to pursue their dreams. When their dreams come true, it will eventually come back to enrich my own life. That’s why I must become a world champion. The biggest enemy is myself. If I give up on something I’ve decided, it’s easy to imagine losing to my opponent in a match. Losing a match can sometimes be due to chance or luck. There’s no need to be overly elated or disappointed each time. What’s important is to overcome the amount of training I’ve set for myself and not lose to myself. It’s not cool to give up on something you’ve decided on. You have to see it through to the end. I will give it my all and bring the championship belt back home!

June 2016, at Misako Boxing Gym.Translated by ILI Inc.