Riku Masuda Hopes to Extend Japan’s Reign at Bantamweight
Japanese boxing is currently dominating the 118-pound division. The next fighter who hopes to make inroads and win a world title in the division is bantamweight prospect Riku Masuda (5-1, 5 KOs).
Despite accumulating over fifty wins in the unpaid ranks, Masuda received little fanfare as an amateur. The resident of Tokyo turned professional in September 2022 and is starting to make a name for himself.
OVERCOMING EARLY SETBACKS
In Japan, it is customary that when an up-and-comer starts to show some serious potential, they’re given an early test. That was the case for the 26-year-old southpaw. In only his fourth outing as a pro, in August 2023, he fought Seiya Tsutsumi, who fought to a draw with former world flyweight champion Daigo Higa. Unfortunately for Masuda, he lost to Tsutsumi by a unanimous decision in a competitive ten-round scrap.
But Masuda has responded strongly. Promising to be an improved fighter, Masuda rebounded with a stunning first-round knockout over former world title challenger Jonas Sultan in February. A vicious left to the body put Sultan down for the count with less than a minute to go in the opening round.
That win earned Masuda the attention of the world sanctioning bodies. He’s currently ranked eleventh by the WBA, thirteenth by the WBO, and fifteen by the IBF at 118. In his recent fight, he scored a fourth-round knockout over Fumiya Fuse on July 18 in Tokyo.
3kingsboxing.com has seen Masuda in action. What’s eye-opening is his punching power. A southpaw, he can hurt anyone he can hit solidly. However, there are things that he needs to improve from a defensive perspective. Still, Masuda has solid technique and the natural aggression that you like to see from a young prospect.
Japanese fighters currently hold all four major world titles at 118 and Masuda believes he’s got what it takes to follow in the footsteps of his countrymen. Keep an eye on this one.
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