(question disguised as trivia) i'm a U.S. boxer who fought in japan for my career.

Paul Fuji is of Japanese descent, but was born and raised in America and he fought for the Japanese 140 lb title

 

Umio Gen was from the USA and won the Japanese title.

Charlie Ota is another who was born in USA, as was Mark Horikoshi and Rick Yoshimura.

 

I always recall a dude named Steve Smith who fought under the pseudonym, Flasher Ishibashi. I believe he was stationed over there and enjoyed some success.

Scartissue

 

Kevin Palmer is another one. He was from New York and fought all his bouts in Japan.

 

George Carter fought in Japan for his entire career, 1961-1972. He won both the Japanese Light Middle & Middleweight titles.

 

Actually Carter fought 3 times outside Japan, But any of these answers can be correct.

 

First thing I thought of was Paul Fuji...

 

...

 

Rick "Yoshimura" Roberts?

He was based out of Japan throughout much of his career, and became quite popular there, making 22 straight defenses of the Japanese lightweight title. He also held Takanori Hatekayama to a draw in his lone attempt to win a world crown.

There was a fighter named Mark Brooks who, while born in the U.S. was also based out of Japan. Fought as Mark Horokoshi during the 80's. He held the Japanese super bantamweight title for a while, and lost the title to Naoto Takahashi in one of craziest back and forth slugfests I've ever seen.

Takahashi-Horokoshi is youtubed. Well worth checking out. :good

 

I haven't even taken the time to proofread my guess on BoxRec, but I keep thinking of a guy from the 80's named Carlos Elliott who I remember was a big wheel in Japan reportedly while in the service.

 

Takahashi vs Noree I, and the two Imazato fights (particularly the second) are great fights too.

 

One of my aged Nurons sparked and the Name That came to the fore was Morris East
(But it could simply be a case of Bio-Electrical Blowback !!)

 

Deffo blowback, he was a Filipino