Masago Yuri Akui (28 = Moriyasu Kurashiki), the number one challenger in his class who aimed for the world championship from a gym in Okayama, achieved his dream. He took on undefeated champion Artem Darakian (36, Ukraine) and won by a 3-0 decision.
From the start of the match until the final bell, he continued to put pressure on the technical champion. He didn’t have many decisive blows that would damage his opponent, but he dominated the match until the end. “(The champion) is a wonderful person, and I would have always respected him if we had never fought against him, but today he showed his strength despite that. I have always wanted this belt,” the new champion said. The match was originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo last November, but was postponed due to various reasons. Yuri Akui took advantage of the extra time and grabbed a historic victory.
Former Oriental Pacific Minimumweight Champion Wolf Tokimitsu twice competed in world championships from the same gym, but was rejected. Chairman Tatsuya Moriyasu (70), a former Japanese super lightweight champion, chased his dream of “becoming a world champion from a gym in Okayama” while incurring large debts in order to stage a world championship. Yuri Akui said with deep emotion, “The championship belt was won by Moriyasu Gym Chairman and all of his seniors,” as he wrapped the championship belt around the waist of the chairman himself in the ring.
The gym was established in 1987 by the company’s chairman on a piece of farmland. Yuri Akui was a young soccer player who started playing soccer in the third grade of elementary school. Although he was active as a soccer defender, he was said to have had a passion for boxing in his heart. From the second year of junior high school he attended Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym and was trained in boxing. He brought a big title to the gym, which has now been relocated along the national highway.
He is the first world champion from Okayama Prefecture since former WBC world bantamweight champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. “Thank you so much to everyone in Okayama. We look forward to your continued support,” said the new champion. He accomplished his great accomplishments with pride as a citizen of Okayama Prefecture. His future plans are undecided, but he is eager to make a triumphant return in his hometown of Okayama, saying, “If I can play defense, I want to do it.” He became a world champion and his dreams are endless.
◆Yuri Seigo Akui Born on September 3, 1995 in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. Under the influence of his father, Kazuhiko, a former professional boxer, he started boxing at Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym in the second year of junior high school. He was in the top 8 of the national polity in his second and third years at Kurashiki Suimatsu High School. Amateur record is 20 wins and 7 losses. He made his professional debut in April 2014 while still a student at Pacific Rim University, winning by decision in four rounds. 2015 All Japan Light Flyweight Rookie of the Year. In September 2019, he won the Japanese flyweight title. His family consists of his wife and two daughters. He is a right-handed boxer fighter with a height of 164 cm.
◆Yuri He got his ring name after his senior pointed out that his face resembled former WBC world flyweight champion Yuri Arbachakov.
◆Soccer boy A boy who played soccer from the third year of elementary school to the first year of junior high school. His main position is DF.
◆DNA Father Kazuhiko (59) is a former boxer and the first professional athlete at Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym. He had a record of 13 wins (3 KOs), 15 losses and 2 draws. Yuri Akui started boxing at Kurashiki Moriyasu Gym in his second year of junior high school. In his second and third years at Kurashiki Suimatsu High School, he competed in the top eight of the national polity and competed against Tsunenari Tanaka, a three-division champion. After graduating, he entered Pacific Rim University. Amateur record is 20 wins and 7 losses.
◆Professional history: Made his professional debut in April 2014. He won the All Japan Light Flyweight Rookie of the Year title in December 2015. In October 2019, he won the Japanese flyweight title in a championship match against Shun Kosaka and defended it for the third time. His professional record is 19 wins (11 KOs), 2 losses, and 1 draw.
◆Type Right-handed boxer fighter with a height of 163 cm.
◆Family Wife Yume (28), eldest daughter Chisei (3), second daughter Kotono (1).
2024-01-23 10:38:00
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