Boxing
Hiroto Kyoguchi, a Former 2-Division Champ, Announces His Retirement
Osaka Prefecture native Hiroto Kyoguchi retired with a 19-3 (12 KOs) record. He won world titles in the mini-flyweight and the light flyweight divisions.
Hiroto Kyoguchi, who captured the IBF minimumweight (mini-flyweight) title in July 2017 and the WBA light flyweight title in December 2018, has retired.
The Osaka Prefecture native announced his retirement on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, July 2.
"I have decided to retire. Thank you very much," Kyoguchi, 31, was quoted as saying by Sankei Sports.
In his retirement announcement, Kyoguchi added: "I have had a professional career that went beyond what I had imagined. [And] I am very happy to be hanging up my gloves here. It has been a wonderful boxing life. Boxing is the best."
Kyoguchi lost three of his last six fights. He retires with an overall record of 19-3 with 12 knockouts.
In his final fight, Kyoguchi lost a 12-round unanimous decision to American WBO flyweight champion Anthony Olascuaga on March 3 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Hiroto Kyoguchi: The Path to 2 World Titles
Kyoguchi, who trained at Watanabe Boxing Gymnasium in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, made his pro debut in April 2016.
By winning his first seven bouts, he earned his first world-title shot and met IBF mini-flyweight titlist Jose Argumedo in July 2017 at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium. Kyoguchi claimed the title by outpointing his Mexican opponent (116-111 on two judges' scorecards and 115-112 on the other's).
The Japanese had two successful title defenses at mini-fly before moving up to light flyweight (108 pounds).
In his second fight at light flyweight, "Mad Boy" Kyoguchi took on WBA light flyweight champ Hekkie Budler of South Africa on December 31, 2018, in Macau. Kyoguchi triumphed via a 10th-round technical knockout.
Kyoguchi racked up four successful title defenses to earn a showdown with compatriot Kenshiro Teraji, the WBC light flyweight champ. Entering their title unification bout on November 1, 2022 at Saitama Super Arena, Kyoguchi was unbeaten in his pro boxing career.
Terajii, the winner by a seventh-round TKO, handed Kyoguchi his first pro loss.
Kyoguchi bounced back with two victories in 2023 (Roland Jay Biendima, Jerven Mama). Then he split a pair of bouts against Filipino Vince Paras in Incheon, South Korea, and Yokohama in May and October of 2024, losing the first by unanimous decision and winning the second by a majority decision.
And, as it turned out, only one more fight remained in Kyoguchi's pro career ― his aforementioned loss to Olascuaga.
Future Plans for Hiroto Kyoguchi
What's next for Hiroto Kyoguchi?
"I would like to work in various media as a TV personality or in that kind of work in the future," Kygouch said during his retirement announcement, Nikkan Sports reported.
He added, "I would like to do commentary work, talent work (in entertainment) and lecturing as well."
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.