Kosei Tanaka

Early Life and Amateur Career

 

Kosei Tanaka, born on June 15, 1995, in Tajimi, Gifu, Japan, discovered his passion for boxing at a young age, inspired by Japan’s rich combat sports culture and the achievements of local boxing heroes. His father, recognizing Kosei’s budding interest and potential, enrolled him in a local boxing gym, where he began his formal training under the guidance of seasoned coaches. This early mentorship helped shape Tanaka’s disciplined approach and technical finesse in the ring.

 

Throughout his amateur career, Tanaka stood out for his exceptional skills, amassing a formidable record. One of his most significant amateur achievements occurred in 2010 when he clinched the title at the Japanese National High School Boxing Championships. This victory not only boosted his confidence but also marked him as a rising star in Japan’s boxing scene.

 

Tanaka’s amateur success continued to grow, with his style characterized by swift footwork and precise combinations that often overwhelmed his opponents. This period of dominance led him to the international stage at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in 2011. Although he did not win the championship, the experience of competing against the world’s elite amateur boxers provided him with invaluable lessons and exposure.

 

Professional Career

 

Kosei Tanaka’s professional boxing journey began at the age of 18 in 2013, quickly showcasing his formidable skills in the ring. By November 2014, Tanaka had claimed his first major victory, defeating the previously unbeaten Ryuji Hara via a tenth-round technical knockout (TKO) to secure the OPBF mini-flyweight title. His upward trajectory continued in his subsequent fight when he secured the WBO mini-flyweight title by decisioning Julian Yedras, with scores of 117–111, 117–111, and 115–113. Remarkably, Tanaka set a Japanese record by winning a world title in just his fifth fight, a feat previously held by Naoya Inoue, who did it in six fights.

 

Tanaka’s prowess at mini-flyweight was further demonstrated in his title defense against Vic Saludar, where he triumphed with a sixth-round knockout despite being knocked down earlier in the same round. Moving up in weight, Tanaka faced former mini-flyweight titleholder Moisés Fuentes for the WBO junior-flyweight title in December 2016. He dominated the bout, dropping Fuentes in the fifth round before the referee stopped the fight, making Tanaka a two-weight world champion in only his eighth professional bout.

 

His first defense of the junior-flyweight title was a unanimous decision victory against Ángel Acosta, who had a record of all wins by knockout prior to facing Tanaka. The bout was scored 117–110, 117–110, and 116–111. In September 2017, Tanaka successfully defended his title against Palangpol CP Freshmart in a dramatic fight where Tanaka was initially dropped but recovered to secure a ninth-round stoppage.

 

Tanaka then aimed to unify titles against WBA holder Ryoichi Taguchi in December 2017, but injuries sustained in the fight with Palangpol prevented this. He subsequently vacated his junior-flyweight title and moved up to flyweight. In September 2018, he won the WBO flyweight title from Sho Kimura, matching Vasyl Lomachenko’s record by becoming a three-weight world champion in just 12 fights.

 

March 2019 saw Tanaka defending his WBO flyweight title against Ryoichi Taguchi, winning in a one-sided but action-packed bout. In August 2019, he overcame Jonathan González with a dramatic seventh-round knockout after trailing on the scorecards. His last defense at flyweight came on New Year’s Eve 2019, with a decisive third-round knockout against Wulan Tuolehazi.

 

On New Year’s Eve 2020, Tanaka attempted to win a title in a fourth weight class against WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka. Despite a strong start, Tanaka suffered his first professional loss via an eighth-round technical knockout. Following this, Tanaka returned to action on December 11, 2021, narrowly defeating Sho Ishida by split decision in Nagoya, Japan.

 

On June 29, 2022, Tanaka continued his campaign at super flyweight, capturing the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight titles with a fifth-round TKO against Masayoshi Hashizume at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. He vacated the WBO Asia Pacific title on August 23, 2022, signaling his ongoing ambition in professional boxing.

 

Tanaka has been back to winning ways when he defeated Christian Bacasegua via unanimous decision on February 24, 2024 to capture the previously vacant WBO super flyweight title.