
Kosei Tanaka, former four-division titlist, retires at age 29
Kosei Tanaka, the quickest male boxer to win titles in four divisions, has decided to call it a day.

Kosei Tanaka, the quickest male boxer to win titles in four divisions, has decided to call it a day.

“Look at me,” shrieked the trainer Colin Nathan in the corner. “You’re giving him too much fucking respect.” There was a pivotal moment in between Phumelela Cafu and Kosei Tanaka trading bombs in Tokyo earlier in October when, after round seven, the South African coach Nathan moved to motivate Cafu, his charge.

In an excellent fight, South Africa’s unbeaten Phumelele Cafu won the WBO super flyweight championship, scoring a fifth-round knockdown on his way to a contentious split decision win over Kosei Tanaka.

Two huge Tokyo doubleheaders will take place Sunday and Monday morning (U.S. and U.K. times), before the usual weekly TV picks article, so let’s give these cards – featuring seven title fights – a special edition.

WBO junior-bantamweight champion Kosei Tanaka defends his title on Monday, October 14, against South African contender Phumelela Cafu.

An extravaganza of seven title fights in two days is coming to Tokyo’s Ariake Arena Oct. 13-14 in Japan, with Junto Nakatani, Takuma Inoue and Kosei Tanaka, among others, starring on the bill.

As Texas’ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez elevates to his big moment Saturday night against veteran WBC super-flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada, he will find in victory a twist on an old phrase.

Boxing is booming in Japan. Naoya Inoue is leading the way as one of the finest fighters on the planet and 14 world titles presently reside in the land of the rising sun.

WBC bantamweight champion and three-weight king Junto Nakatani will defend his strap against Filipino contender Vincent Astrolabio on Saturday, July 20, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Kosei Tanka becomes four-weight world champion Vs Christian Bacasegua in Tokyo, Japan.