An american serviceman who boxed pro in Japan and challenged for the lightweight title?I know his first name was Rick and he had taken(or was given a Japanese last name).I pretty sure the time period was in the late eighties/early nineties.
I'd assume this is the guy you're thinking of, Cobra; http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=18953&cat=boxer
