Japan’s top stars as Kataoka, Kumamoto and Fujiki all won the titles at the 78th National High School Boxing Championships

The 78th Japanese National High School Boxing Championships was held at the Saga Arena where three female and eight male boxers earned their titles. The Asian Youth Champion Raito Kataoka, the East Asian Youth Games winner Fuma Kumamoto and the Asian Junior Champion Yuga Fujiki were among the gold medallists in their next high school event.

The 35th Japanese National High School Selection Tournament and the JOC Junior Olympic Boxing Cup Competition was held in Tamano City earlier this year where altogether 127 bouts are concluded a few months ago.  

The 78th Japanese National High School Boxing Championships delivered bigger number of entries, the country proved its strong future potential with these figures.

Osaka’s Miki Hiyori not only advanced to the final of the women’s light flyweight (48kg) but she defeated another high school champion, the strong Yu Miyata unanimously in an exciting final bout in the Saga Arena.

Miyazaki’s Shiori Yotsumoto claimed a bronze medal at the 2023 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships in Astana and she was able to beat Ayako Ota in the final of the women’s bantamweight (54kg).

Hyogo’s Sakura Okayama worked hard at the women’s lightweight (60kg) and she defeated all of her three rivals including Miyazaki’s outstanding Rina Tsutsumi who came from a famous boxing family.

Osaka’s Daichi Iwai won the last two national high school events among the pinweight (46kg) boxers and he was able to beat his main rival, Rinto Nakano once again on their repeat match winning the bout by 3:2 split decision.

Fukuoka’s Seiya Nakayama had a tough quarter-final bout at the light flyweight against Miyazaki’s Shin Yamada but he managed to win that difficult challenge and after that he defeated Tochigi’s Eikan Kobayashi and Taiga Yoshida more easier.

Chiba’s Raito Kataoka claimed a gold medal at the 2023 ASBC Asian Youth Championships and the 18-year-old star continued his winning series against Miyazaki’s Anren Toushi in the final which was another repeat contest after the last high school event.

The East Asian Youth Games winner 18-year-old Fuma Kumamoto had to meet his main national rival, Saitama’s Haruto Kaneko once again after their first meeting at the 35th Japanese National High School Selection Tournament this March but he was able to beat the opponent unanimously.

Osaka’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Yuga Fujiki is one of the biggest talents among the 2007 born boxers in the whole world and he had a very clear pathway for the title of the lightweight (60kg) at the Saga Arena where he defeated Nara’s Yoto Horie.

Kanagawa’s Haruya Ohgo achieved his second national title this year following his success over Saesuke Uchida. Chiba’s Taisora Nakazaki was a surprise winner over Yoshitsune Okita at the welterweight but Tochigi’s Ieshua Silva dominated the middleweight (75kg) once again, Kumamoto’s Hidetora Omae was not able to stop him.

The list of the winners at the Japanese National High School Boxing Championships
Women’s 48kg: Miki Hiyori
Women’s 54kg: Shiori Yotsumoto
Women’s 60kg: Sakura Okayama
Men’s 46kg: Daichi Iwai
Men’s 49kg: Seiya Nakayama
Men’s 52kg: Raito Kataoka
Men’s 56kg: Fuma Kumamoto
Men’s 60kg: Yuga Fujiki
Men’s 64kg: Haruya Ohgo
Men’s 69kg: Taisora Nakazaki
Men’s 75kg: Ieshua Silva

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