Japanese Boxing is extremely unheralded they produce some terrific fighters that are unheard of, even among hardcore Boxing fans. But most of all I really appreciate the Japanese model if every nation followed it, Boxing would certainly be much better off. They only recognise four titles, two world titles (WBA & WBC) and two minor titles the Japanese and the OPBF (Asian equivalent of European) you dont see no inter-continental, international, youth, WBU, WBF nope none of those bull**** titles. Their fighter are matched very hard when they are coming through and this clearly helps them to improve because they are given genuine challenges and they dont just toe the line like the best prospects from here. And as shown with todays show they put on a good undercard and have interest in Boxers that are from outside Japan. The only bleak point with Japanese Boxing is that their fighters dont travel and they quite often wont fight the best fighters in their division. But beyond that you have to appreciate the model they have in place, it is far better then what we have here or what they have in the States.
Most US elites don't travel either, so I guess the Japanese are the same. Why bother when there's lots of money to be made? But it's a shame we don't see more of them on the major networks. Many of these guys are superior to US and Euro counterparts. And Joe Koizumi is an amazing writer.
They (Japanese Boxing Commission) also produce their own rankings. Something our Board of Control should look at. One thing I don't like about boxing over in Japan is how important it is for fighters to sell tickets on their own accord. This is a piece of interview with Charlie Ota, a Japanese-based American talking about it: "In Japan, you need to be your own promoter. If I got a fight, they’d give me 50 tickets and say, "Go sell ’em." That part of being a boxer in Japan is probably the most stressful." And imagine how hard it was for him, due to him being an 'outsider' (at least at the start, he has a pretty good following now). Stoppages are also more premature over there than most places, although plenty of people say refs are being extra cautious recently after a boxer died over there last year. But, I'm a big fan of Japanese boxing :good
Very true. I get really pissed off with Americans they are so god damn ignorant and hypocritical they give so much stick to Japanese and European Boxers for not travelling or taking on the toughest challenges and altough at times the criticism is fair most of the time it is a lot of hot air. When was the last time anything other then a no hoper went abroad to challenge for a title or just to take a fight, the last one I can remember was Tim Bradley. Like you said it is a shame they don't get more coverage Toshiaki Nishioka and Takashi Uchiyama are probably the best in their divisions and Daiki Kameda is pretty close. That's down mostly to the fact that their guys are mostly in the lowest weight divisions which don't get much coverage regardless of how good you are and the they do bring in to many soft touches.
That's no different to here then really, if you cannot sell tickets promoters won't put you on their shows and you will struggle to get fights let alone any meaningful fights.
For the most part, but there are some fighters who can't draw many fans that are domestic champions and touted prospects over here. Fighters selling tickets is not an aspect of the sport I like TBH, but I know it has to be done.
I agree and understand the necessity of being able to sell tickets but it still pisses me off when guys like Choi, Munyai, Olusegan etc. are given little or no chances because they can't sell tickets. It's utter bs surely they are perfect fighters to push real hard because there is little risk for the promoter if they lose you won't lose much because their reputation won't be damaged. For me if a fighters is talented they should be given the chance to shine, if they have the goods sooner or later they will become a draw provided they are consistently given the platform to shine.
That's why in some cases a lot of fights are in the places where the ticket sellers live...:yep A good example of this is Title fights taking place when Jaffa is on the undercard...:yep
yep japan is certainly a boxing mecca i am impressed with there set up there training and there fighters world boxing could learn a bit from there set up
Yep, when Montiel took on Hasegawa the WBO wasn't on the line and if Hasegawa won the WBO would have become vacant.
i regularly read Joe Koizumi website.The jap scene is very good but odd.It is very important to be respectful the kamedas got in a lot of trouble for disrepecting the wbc (who disrespect themselve everyday).they produce some great fighters and fights at the lower weightsbut its a shame they don't go for all jap unification fights.most the fights are on youtube http://www.ring-japan.com/oriental.htm
good arcticle on the jap gym culture http://www.theboxingbulletin.com/2010/8/30/1658787/japanese-scene-the-dawn-of
They seem to do things right over there. Their best fighters all have early defeats and have clearly learnt a lot from them so there isn't so much record padding going on. I do wish they'd make more of an effort to fight abroad more often though, if only to display their talents to the boxing world at large. Another cool thing is the crowd. It's not dead like Germany but its certainly not that type of hooligan atmosphere where the 'opponent' is disprespected. It's like there is a respectful buzz about the fight and the home favourite gets cheered of course but its hardly a lions den, they're clearly knowledgable and respectful.