Kohei Kono Explained

Kohei Kono
Birth Date:November 23, 1980
Birth Place:Tokyo, Japan
Nationality:Japanese
Weight:Super flyweight
Height:5 ft 5+1/2 in
Reach:67+1/2 in
Style:Orthodox
Total:46
Wins:33
Ko:14
Losses:12
Draws:1

(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 vs. Niita

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 vs. Kikui

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]

Kono vs. Sonsona

He then won the OPBF super flyweight title against Eden Sonsona by split decision (118-110, 115-113, 113-115).[2]

Kono vs. Nashiro

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 vs. Rojas

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 vs. Kokietgym

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 vs. Solis

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]

Kono vs. Kaovichit

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 vs. Jimenez

Kono's first defense saw him fight to a split draw against Norbelto Jimenez.[10]

Kono vs. Kameda

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).[11]

Kono vs. Concepcion

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).[12]

Kono vs. Inoue

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.[13]

Kono vs. Tso

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.[14] After six rounds, Tso was unable to continue due to swelling around his eye. Nevertheless, Tso remained unbeaten by winning a technical decision.[15]

Kono vs. Moloney

In his next bout, Kono faced Jason Moloney, ranked 4# by the WBA, #5 by the WBO, #11 by the IBF and #13 by the WBC at bantamweight. Moloney managed to win the fight via a sixth round TKO.[16]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46LossJason Moloney6 (12), May 19, 2018
45Loss33–11–1Rex TsoTD7 (12)Oct 7, 2017
44Win33–10–1Rambo SithsaithongTKO5 (8), Jul 23, 2017
43Loss32–10–1Naoya InoueTKO6 (12), Dec 30, 2016
42Loss32–9–1Luis ConcepciónUD12Aug 31, 2016
41Win32–8–1Tanawat PhonnakuUD12Apr 27, 2016
40Win31–8–1Kōki KamedaUD12Oct 16, 2015
39Draw30–8–1Norbelto Jimenez12Dec 31, 2014
38Win30–8Denkaosan KaovichitKO8 (12), Mar 26, 2014
37Win29–8Dawut ManopkanchangTKO3 (8), Dec 31, 2013
36Loss28–8Liborio SolísMD12May 6, 2013
35Win28–7Tepparith SingwanchaKO4 (12), Dec 31, 2012
34Win27–7Petchbarngborn KokietgymUD8Sep 10, 2012
33Win26–7Yusaku IshikawaTKO5 (8), Mar 31, 2012
32Loss25–7Yohei TobeUD8Oct 10, 2011
31Loss25–6Yota SatoUD10Apr 9, 2011
30Loss25–5Tomás RojasUD12Sep 20, 2010
29Win25–4Masafumi TonomuraTKO11 (12), May 17, 2010
28Win24–4Marvin TampusUD12Oct 3, 2009
27Win23–4Daniel FerrerasUD12May 2, 2009
26Win22–4Hendrik BarongsayTKO6 (10), Feb 7, 2009
25Loss21–4Nobuo NashiroSD12Sep 15, 2008
24Win21–3Kuniyuki AizawaUD12Feb 16, 2008
23Win20–3Eden SonsonaSD12Oct 6, 2007
22Win19–3Kenji Saegusa9 (10), Jun 2, 2007
21Win18–3Teppei KikuiUD10Feb 12, 2007
20Win17–3Saichon Or OunsuwonTKO6 (8), Sep 4, 2006
19Win16–3Prosper MatsuuraTKO9 (10), Feb 11, 2006
18Win15–3Petchdam SithsaithongKO2 (10), Oct 24, 2005
17Loss14–3Teppei KikuiUD8Jul 16, 2005
16Win14–2Kyohei WadaUD8Feb 1, 2005
15Win13–2Munetake EgawaSD8Aug 25, 2004
14Win12–2Kengo WakaoTKO7 (10), May 20, 2004
13Win11–2Asahi TakanoUD8Feb 5, 2004
12Win10–2Teppei Kikui8Nov 4, 2003
11Win9–2Makoto HorinouchiTKO2 (6), Jun 26, 2003
10Loss8–2Daigo NakahiroUD6Dec 22, 2002
9Win8–1Kenji SaegusaUD6Nov 9, 2002
8Win7–1Yuichiro KomuroUD6Sep 26, 2002
7Win6–1Yuki KishiUD6Aug 2, 2002
6Win5–1Kosuke Takamizawa4 (4), May 31, 2002
5Win4–1Ryoji Arai1 (4), Jan 28, 2002
4Win3–1Yosuke IshiwatariUD4Sep 26, 2001
3Win2–1Takaaki HayashiUD4Jun 19, 2001
2Win1–1Kazuya Hirata4Apr 18, 2001
1Loss0–1Toshiaki Nitta4Nov 22, 2000

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kohei Kono and Luis Concepcion - set to deliver action!.
  2. Web site: - YouTube. YouTube.
  3. Web site: 2017-10-07. Nashiro regains WBA super flyweight title Inside Vietnam Tours. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007021822/https://www.insideasiatours.com/insidevietnam/vietnam-news/27/nashiro-regains-wba-super-flyweight-title/. 2017-10-07. 2022-02-25.
  4. Web site: Tomas Rojas Decisions Kohei Kono, Wins WBC Title. 20 September 2010 .
  5. Web site: Kono upsets Tepparith to win WBA 115lb belt. Joe Koizumi. December 31, 2012. Fightnews.com. December 31, 2012.
  6. Web site: 2017-10-07. BOXINGTALK : KOHEI KONO PULLS UPSET TO CLAIM WBA 115-POUND TITLE. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007020957/http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=24299. 2017-10-07. 2022-02-25.
  7. Web site: Sato seeks superflyweight unification bout. 16 January 2013.
  8. Web site: Liborio Solis beats Kohei Kono for WBA super flyweight title. 6 May 2013 .
  9. Web site: Denkaosan Kaovichit vs Kohei Kono. YouTube.
  10. Web site: Kohei Kono vs. Norberto Jimenez - BoxRec. 2022-02-25. boxrec.com.
  11. Web site: Kohei Kono retains 115-pound title by winning epic brawl against countryman Koki Kameda. 16 October 2015 .
  12. Web site: Luis Concepcion Unseats Kohei Kono, Taguchi Beats Miyazaki. 31 August 2016 .
  13. Web site: Naoya Inoue Halts Kohei Kono In Six, Sets Sights On Roman Gonzalez - Boxing News. www.boxingscene.com. 30 December 2016 .
  14. Web site: Kohei Kono-Rex Tso Showdown in the Works for March. 18 January 2016 .
  15. Web site: As it happened: Hong Kong's Rex Tso retains title against Kono. 7 October 2017.
  16. Web site: Moloney vs Kono - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets. 2022-02-25. Box.Live. en-US.