Kohei Kono
Kohei Kono | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Japanese |
Other names | Tough Boy |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 5.5 in (1.66 m) |
Reach | 67 in (170 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 46 |
Wins | 33 |
Wins by KO | 14 |
Losses | 12 |
Draws | 1 |
Kohei Kono (河野公平, Kōno Kōhei) (born November 23, 1980) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a two-time world champion, having held the WBA super-flyweight title twice between 2012 and 2016 with three successful defenses.
Professional career
Kono made his professional debut at the Korakuen Hall in November 2000, losing on points to Toshiaki Niita. He had little amateur experience before his professional debut. However, Kono was able to win 17 of his first 20 pro bouts, steadily climbing up the rankings. Kono's first title fight would be for the Japanese super flyweight title against Teppei Kikui in February 2007. Kono won the fight and the national title by unanimous decision (98-93, 97-93, 97-94).[1] He then won the OPBF super flyweight title against Eden Sonsona by split decision (118-110, 115-113, 113-115).[2]
In September 2008, Kono fought Nobuo Nashiro for the vacant WBA (Regular) super flyweight world title. Nashiro had previously held the WBA title. In a close, contested fight, he would reclaim the belt, beating Kono by split decision (115-114, 115-114, 114-115). After the fight, Kono said ""I was able to keep my own rhythm and I thought I won. I think I hit some good punches. I did my best, but I must accept the result."[3]
Kono once again fought for a vacant world title, facing Tomás Rojas for the WBC super flyweight title. This time Kono lost a wide unanimous decision (111-116, 111-116, 109-118), despite dropping Rojas in the final round.[4] Kono's career suffered more setbacks, dropping decisions to Yota Sato and Yohei Tobe following his loss to Rojas.
Kono captured the WBA super flyweight title in his third world title shot against Thailand's Tepparith Kokietgym via fourth round knockout.[5] at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on December 31, 2012. Kono dropped the Thai champion three times during round 4. The result was considered an upset.[6] Yota Sato, who held the WBC title expressed interest in rematching Kono in a unification bout.[7] Kono would lose his title in his first defense, dropping a majority decision (113-113, 112-114, 111-115) to Liborio Solís in a fight where both fighters traded knockdowns.[8]
After Solís lost his title due to being unable to make weight in his next fight, Kono faced Denkaosan Kaovichit for the vacant WBA title. Denkaosan went down in round 4, but was ahead on the scorecards before Kono knocked him out in round 8 with a cross.[9] Kono's first defense saw him fight to a split draw against Norberto Jiménez. He then fought Kōki Kameda at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. In a scrappy brawl that saw both fighters lose points on the scorecards due to fouls, Kono retained his title, dropping Kameda in round 2 en route to winning a unanimous decision (115-109, 113-111, 116-108).[10] Kono would lose his title in a unification bout against the WBA's interim champion Luis Concepción. Concepción won the fight by unanimous decision (113-115, 112-116, 112-116).[11]
Kono challenged WBO super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue in December 2016. Inoue stopped Kono in a commanding performance. Kono was dropped once by a left hook from Inoue before being stopped in the sixth round. This was the first time Kono lost a fight due to stoppage.[12] In October 2017, Kono faced Rex Tso. Tso had sought to fight Kono while the latter was still a world champion, but was unable to draw him into the ring.[13] After six rounds, Tso was unable to continue due to swelling around his eye. Nevertheless, Tso remained unbeaten by winning a technical decision.[14]
Professional boxing record
46 fights | 33 wins | 12 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 14 | 2 |
By decision | 19 | 10 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | Loss | 33–12–1 | ![]() |
RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | May 19, 2018 | ![]() |
For WBA Oceania bantamweight title |
45 | Loss | 33–11–1 | ![]() |
TD | 7 (12) | Oct 7, 2017 | ![]() |
For WBO International super-flyweight title; Unanimous TD after Tso sustained swelling from an accidental head clash |
44 | Win | 33–10–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (8), 1:35 | Jul 23, 2017 | ![]() |
|
43 | Loss | 32–10–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (12), 1:01 | Dec 30, 2016 | ![]() |
For WBO super-flyweight title |
42 | Loss | 32–9–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Aug 31, 2016 | ![]() |
Lost WBA super-flyweight title |
41 | Win | 32–8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Apr 27, 2016 | ![]() |
Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
40 | Win | 31–8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Oct 16, 2015 | ![]() |
Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
39 | Draw | 30–8–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | Dec 31, 2014 | ![]() |
Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
38 | Win | 30–8 | ![]() |
KO | 8 (12), 0:50 | Mar 26, 2014 | ![]() |
Won vacant WBA super-flyweight title |
37 | Win | 29–8 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8), 0:50 | Dec 31, 2013 | ![]() |
|
36 | Loss | 28–8 | ![]() |
MD | 12 | May 6, 2013 | ![]() |
Lost WBA super-flyweight title |
35 | Win | 28–7 | ![]() |
KO | 4 (12), 2:08 | Dec 31, 2012 | ![]() |
Won WBA super-flyweight title |
34 | Win | 27–7 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Sep 10, 2012 | ![]() |
|
33 | Win | 26–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (8), 1:14 | Mar 31, 2012 | ![]() |
|
32 | Loss | 25–7 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Oct 10, 2011 | ![]() |
|
31 | Loss | 25–6 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Apr 9, 2011 | ![]() |
For Japanese super-flyweight title |
30 | Loss | 25–5 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Sep 20, 2010 | ![]() |
For vacant WBC super-flyweight title |
29 | Win | 25–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 11 (12), 2:28 | May 17, 2010 | ![]() |
Retained OPBF super-flyweight title |
28 | Win | 24–4 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Oct 3, 2009 | ![]() |
Retained OPBF super-flyweight title |
27 | Win | 23–4 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | May 2, 2009 | ![]() |
Won vacant OPBF super-flyweight title |
26 | Win | 22–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10), 2:28 | Feb 7, 2009 | ![]() |
|
25 | Loss | 21–4 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | Sep 15, 2008 | ![]() |
For vacant WBA super-flyweight title |
24 | Win | 21–3 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Feb 16, 2008 | ![]() |
Retained OPBF and Japanese super-flyweight titles |
23 | Win | 20–3 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | Oct 6, 2007 | ![]() |
Won vacant OPBF super-flyweight title |
22 | Win | 19–3 | ![]() |
TD | 9 (10), 1:05 | Jun 2, 2007 | ![]() |
Retained Japanese super-flyweight title |
21 | Win | 18–3 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Feb 12, 2007 | ![]() |
Won Japanese super-flyweight title |
20 | Win | 17–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (8), 2:41 | Sep 4, 2006 | ![]() |
|
19 | Win | 16–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (10), 1:50 | Feb 11, 2006 | ![]() |
|
18 | Win | 15–3 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (10), 1:07 | Oct 24, 2005 | ![]() |
|
17 | Loss | 14–3 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Jul 16, 2005 | ![]() |
|
16 | Win | 14–2 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Feb 1, 2005 | ![]() |
|
15 | Win | 13–2 | ![]() |
SD | 8 | Aug 25, 2004 | ![]() |
|
14 | Win | 12–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (10), 1:05 | May 20, 2004 | ![]() |
|
13 | Win | 11–2 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Feb 5, 2004 | ![]() |
|
12 | Win | 10–2 | ![]() |
SD | 8 | Nov 4, 2003 | ![]() |
|
11 | Win | 9–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (6), 2:54 | Jun 26, 2003 | ![]() |
|
10 | Loss | 8–2 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Dec 22, 2002 | ![]() |
|
9 | Win | 8–1 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Nov 9, 2002 | ![]() |
|
8 | Win | 7–1 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Sep 26, 2002 | ![]() |
|
7 | Win | 6–1 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Aug 2, 2002 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 5–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (4), 1:54 | May 31, 2002 | ![]() |
|
5 | Win | 4–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (4), 2:07 | Jan 28, 2002 | ![]() |
|
4 | Win | 3–1 | ![]() |
UD | 4 | Sep 26, 2001 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 4 | Jun 19, 2001 | ![]() |
|
2 | Win | 1–1 | ![]() |
UD | 4 | Apr 18, 2001 | ![]() |
|
1 | Loss | 0–1 | ![]() |
MD | 4 | Nov 22, 2000 | ![]() |
See also
- List of WBA world champions
- List of super flyweight boxing champions
- List of Japanese boxing world champions
- Boxing in Japan
References
- ^ http://www.asianboxing.info/world-title-previews/kohei-kono-and-luis-concepcion-set-to-deliver-action
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x6YDjgsiwk
- ^ https://www.insideasiatours.com/insidevietnam/vietnam-news/27/nashiro-regains-wba-super-flyweight-title/
- ^ http://www.boxingscene.com/tomas-rojas-decisions-kohei-kono-wins-wbc-title--31112
- ^ Joe Koizumi (December 31, 2012). "Kono upsets Tepparith to win WBA 115lb belt". Fightnews.com. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=24299
- ^ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/16/more-sports/sato-seeks-superflyweight-unification-bout/
- ^ https://www.si.com/mma/2013/05/06/liborio-solis-kohei-kono-boxing-fight
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckj5NHLJ06Q
- ^ http://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/kohei-kono-retains-115-pound-title-winning-epic-brawl-against-countryman-koki-kameda
- ^ http://www.boxingscene.com/luis-concepcion-unseats-kohei-kono-taguchi-beats-miyazaki--108267
- ^ "Naoya Inoue Halts Kohei Kono In Six, Sets Sights On Roman Gonzalez - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com.
- ^ http://www.boxingscene.com/kohei-kono-rex-tso-showdown-works-march--100470
- ^ http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2114367/live-blog-rex-tso-v-kohei-kono
External links
- Boxing record for Kohei Kono from BoxRec (registration required)