Kosei Tanaka Pushes for a Match in America
Junior bantamweight has established itself as one of the best divisions currently in boxing. A fighter looking to make an imprint at 115 is Kosei Tanaka (17-1, 10 KOs). The former WBO champion at 105, 108, and 112 pounds is coming off a fifth-round TKO over countryman Masayoshi Hashizume at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, on June 29.
After a cautious start, Tanaka chopped down and gave his foe a beating before finishing him off. Following the victory, he has now made his intentions known on what he hopes to accomplish moving forward. The 27-year-old from Aichi, Japan, took to social media with the following message.
EYES ON FIGHTING THE BIG NAMES
WBC champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) has emerged as a rising star in the division following his title-winning performance over one-time WBC champ Carlos Cuadras and eight-round stoppage of two-time WBC champ Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Then you have mainstays in the division: WBA Super champ Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) and future Hall of Famer and multi-divisional world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (51-3, 41 KOs). Tanaka fancies himself fighting any of those men.
Based on skills and talent, the three-division champion could compete with Rodriguez, Estrada, and Gonzalez. Tanaka’s lone loss as a pro was to the current WBO junior bantamweight champion, Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KOs), in December 2020.
Attempting to become a four-division world champion, Tanaka was taken to school by the wily veteran. But if folks want to define him by that lone setback, that would be a big mistake.
HOW DOES TANAKA FIT AT 115?
Followers of the lower-weight divisions understand he is an immensely talented fighter. Offensively, Tanaka can do it all in the ring. He can fight at a distance, mid-range, or up close with speed, excellent punching power, and an underrated body attack. His main weakness is defense but he showed improvement in that department against Hashizume.
His desire to come to America is understandable. Tanaka already has experience training in the States and now wants to take the next step from training to fighting in the States. Aside from a possible rematch with Ioka in Japan, the big fights in the division are in the West. At the very least, Tanaka is another fighter in a loaded 115-pound weight class worth keeping an eye on.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
