Kosei Tanaka (田中 恒成, Tanaka Kōsei, born 15 June 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a four-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016; the WBO junior-flyweight title from 2016 to 2017; the WBO flyweight title from 2018 to 2020; and the WBO super-flyweight title from February 2024 to October 2024. Upon winning his first world title in only his fifth bout, he became the fastest Japanese fighter ever to become a world champion. Along with Vasyl Lomachenko, he is also the fastest ever fighter to win titles in three weight-classes, having accomplished the feat in only 12 bouts. He also surpassed Oscar De La Hoya to become the fastest four division champion, setting the bar at 21 fights. [1]
Amateur career
As a child, Tanaka suffered from Legg–Calvé–Perthe disease. Despite this, he took up boxing and won four national high school tournaments competing as an amateur in the junior-flyweight division. At the continental and international level he was a quarter-finalist at the 2012 Youth World Championships and a silver medalist at the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships. At Chukyo Highschool he trained under former OPBF super flyweight champion Hideyasu Ishihara. He finished his amateur career with a record of 46-5 (13 KO/RSC). He was not stopped during his amateur career.[2]
Professional career
Mini-flyweight
Tanaka turned pro at the age of 18 in 2013. In November 2014, Tanaka defeated previously unbeaten Ryuji Hara via tenth-round technical knockout (TKO) to win the OPBF mini-flyweight title. In his next fight, Tanaka decisioned Julian Yedras (117–111, 117–111, 115–113) to win the WBO mini-flyweight title.[3] Tanaka holds the Japanese record for winning a world title in the fewest fights (five), surpassing the previous record held by Naoya Inoue of six fights.[4] Tanaka's only title defense at mini-flyweight came against Vic Saludar, whom he knocked out in round six after a left hook to the body. Saludar knocked down Tanaka in round six, and was ahead on all scorecards prior to the stoppage.[5]
Junior-flyweight
In December 2016, Tanaka challenged former mini-flyweight title holder Moisés Fuentes for the WBO junior-flyweight title. Tanaka dominated Fuentes, dropping him in round five before referee Raul Caiz Jr stopped the fight, giving Tanaka a TKO victory. With the win, Tanaka became a two-weight world champion in just eight fights.[6] Tanaka's first defense came against prospect Ángel Acosta. The former won a wide unanimous decision (UD) (117–110, 117–110, 116–111) and dropped Acosta once. Acosta had won all 16 of his previous fights by knockout.[7]
Tanaka's second defense took place in September 2017 against little-known fighter Palangpol CP Freshmart. Tanaka was a huge favorite going into the fight, but Palangpol would prove to be Tanaka's toughest challenger so far, dropping the defending champion once in the first round and trading back-and-forth combinations for the rest of the bout. After a thrilling fight, Tanaka would finally gain the upper hand in round nine, as he knocked down Palangpol and continued to land big combinations as the challenger struggled to connect. Eventually, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:52 in round nine.[8][9][10]
Tanaka had previously sought a unification bout against WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi in December,[11] but injuries during the fight against Palangpol would prevent him from fighting on that date.[12]
Flyweight
In December 2017, Tanaka vacated his junior-flyweight title to move to the flyweight division.[13] In September 2018, Tanaka defeated Sho Kimura to capture the WBO flyweight title, equalling Vasyl Lomachenko's record of becoming a three-weight world champion in just 12 fights.[citation needed]
In March 2019, Tanaka fought former WBA, IBF, lineal and The Ring junior flyweight champion and domestic rival Ryoichi Taguchi for the first defense of his WBO flyweight title in a one sided bout described as "action packed" by spectators. After the fight, Tanaka expressed regret that he did not deliver a knockout.[14]
In August 2019, Tanaka fought Jonathan González after losing on all three judge's scorecards leading up to the seventh round, Tanaka delivered a brutal knock out to make a second successful defense of his WBO flyweight title.[15]
On New Year's Eve in 2019, Tanaka fought Wulan Tuolehazi, Tanaka delivered a brutal third-round knockout after a one sided fight to defend his WBO flyweight title for the third time. Shortly after the bout, he vacated his WBO flyweight title, announcing that he intended to fight Kazuto Ioka for his WBO super flyweight title.[16]
Super-flyweight
Tanaka faced WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka on New Year's Eve 2020 in an attempt to win a major title in four divisions in the fewest fights. He would have become the second Japanese champion to win a major title in four divisions if he was victorious, the first being his opponent, Ioka.[17] After a competitive first four rounds in which Tanaka was the aggressor and Ioka found success with counter punches, Ioka dropped his opponent in the fifth round with a counter left hook. With about a minute left in the sixth round, he again knocked Tanaka down. In the eighth round, Ioka caught his opponent with another hard counter left hook, and referee Michiaki Someya caught Tanaka before he could fall and waved off the fight, with Ioka inflicting Tanaka with his first professional loss and retaining his WBO title via eighth-round technical knockout.[18]
Tanaka was booked to face the one-time WBA super-flyweight title challenger Sho Ishida on 11 December 2021, at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan.[19] He won the fight by split decision, with two judges awarding him a 96-94 and 96-95 scorecard respectively, while the third judge scored the fight 96-94 for Ishida.[20]
Tanaka faced the reigning OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight champion Masayoshi Hashizume, for the latter title, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on 29 June 2022.[21] The fight headlined the "89th Phoenix Battle" and was broadcast by Hikari TV.[22] Tanaka won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.[23] Tanaka vacated the WBO Asia Pacific title on 23 August 2022.[24]
Tanaka then faced Yanga Sigqibo on 11 December 2022, at the Takeda Teva Ocean Arena in Nagoya, Japan.[25] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[26]
WBO Super Flyweight Champion
Tanaka was originally scheduled to make the first defense of his WBO super flyweight title against Jonathan Rodriguez at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan on July 20, 2024.[27] However, this fight was called off the day before it was due after Rodriguez missed weight by nearly seven pounds.[28]
Tanaka made his first defense against South African Phumelele Cafu on October 14, 2024. The fight was held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.[29] He lost the bout by split decision.[30]
