Daisuke Naito
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| Daisuke Naito | |
 |
|
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Daisuke Naito |
| Rated at | Flyweight |
| Height | 5 ft. 4 in. (162 cm.) |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Birth date | August 30, 1974 |
| Birth place | Toyoura, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 37 |
| Wins | 32 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 0 |
Daisuke Naito (内藤 大助 Naitō Daisuke?, born August 30, 1974) is a professional boxer from Japan. He is the current WBC flyweight champion, and former Japanese and OPBF flyweight champion.
[edit] Biography
Naito made his professional debut in October, 1996. He compiled an undefeated record, and challenged current WBA flyweight champion Takefumi Sakata for the Japanese flyweight title on July 16, 2001, but failed to win the title in a 10-round draw.
Naito traveled to Thailand in 2002 for his first world title shot, challenging Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the WBC flyweight title. Naito was knocked out only 34 seconds into the first round, setting the record for the shortest world flyweight title match ever. Naito was ridiculed for this embarrassing loss, but made a comeback later in the year to revive his status in Japanese boxing.
On June 6, 2004, Naito dominated his opponent to win the Japanese flyweight title. He made his first defense later that year, knocking out the challenger only 24 seconds into the first round to set the record for the shortest Japanese flyweight title match ever. He made two defenses before returning his title.
Naito challenged Wonjongkam for the second time on October 10, 2005, but lost by decision after the fight was stopped due to an injury in the 7th round. Naito won the Japanese flyweight title for the second time in February, 2006, and won the OPBF flyweight title in June, 2006, by 6th round TKO.
Naito made one defense of the OPBF title before returning it in February, 2007. He also announced his decision to challenge Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the third time, but found it difficult to gather sponsors. The match was finalized on July 6; only 12 days prior to the actual match-up.
On July 18, 2007, Naito defeated Pongsaklek Wonjongkam by 12 round unanimous decision, winning the world title five years after his first world title shot. Wonjongkam had made 17 straight defenses of the WBC title, and had not lost a match in over a decade.
On October 11, 2007, Naito defeated Daiki Kameda by unanimous decision for the first defense of his title. Naito throughly outclassed the younger fighter (Kameda is 15 years his junior) despite being fouled throughout the fight. He received illegal blows to the thighs on several occasions, and was thrown down onto the ring in a wrestling-like maneuver in the 12th round. Koki Kameda's upcoming fight was cancelled after video footage was produced showing that he encouraged younger brother Daiki to foul Naito in-between rounds, and Daiki's boxing license was suspended for one year. The fight received widespread coverage by the Japanese media because of the intense rivalry between Naito and the Kameda boxing family. Daiki Kameda described Naito as a "cockroach" prior to the fight, and stated that he would commit harakiri (ritual suicide) if he were to lose. The victory over Kameda (one of the most popular and controversial figures in Japan) truly placed Naito in the spotlight for the first time in his career.
On March 3, 2008, Naito kept his title when his defense of his title against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam ended in draw.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Pongsaklek Wonjongkam |
WBC Flyweight Champion July 18, 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
