Kai Ishizawa (28), the former Japanese minimumweight professional boxing champion, stepped into the ring at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on the 29th to hold a retirement ceremony at a joint event held by M.T Gym and KG Yamato Gym, where he belonged during his active days. Ta. He announced his retirement from active duty in June.

Ishizawa received loud applause from the audience and heard the 10-count gong. He did not show any tears, but with a refreshing expression, accepted the commemorative gift from the Japan Boxing Commission and said, “I am truly honored to have had this opportunity at Korakuen Hall, where I have so many memories. I was able to live a life of boxing until now. All I can say is, “Thank you.”

Ken Murano, chairman of M.T. Gym, said, “Korakuen is a place where I have fond memories of having both the Japanese title match and the world title match.The fact that there was a 10 count (gong) here was perhaps a coincidence. This is the second round of my life, but I hope everyone will continue to support Ishizawa.”

Ishizawa started boxing at the age of 14 and was the captain of the boxing club during his time at Buso High School in Kanagawa. He entered the Faculty of Physical Education at Nippon Sport Science University and made his sixth-round debut in June 2017 while still enrolled there. After winning six consecutive fights by KO, he faced Masataka Taniguchi (Watanabe) in September 2019 to determine the Japanese minimum weight challenger. Although he was knocked down with a right hook in the 5th round, he lost by decision in the 8th round, 0-3, and suffered his first loss as a professional. He won the Japanese equal weight title in January 2022, and made his first world challenge in April of the same year in a rematch with Taniguchi, who was the WBO world minimum weight champion. At the weigh-in the day before, he was 2.3 kg overweight, and although he cleared the weigh-in on the day of the match and was able to take part in the match, he lost by TKO in the 11th round.

In June of last year, he won a 5th round knockout in his 8th round flyweight bout, but in October he lost a 1-2 8th round decision to Vince Paras (Philippines), who was ranked 15th in the IBF flyweight world. His last fight was in April of this year, when he challenged WBO Global Light Flyweight Champion Reggie Suganobu (Philippines), losing by TKO in the 8th round. He had been suffering from left trochlear nerve palsy for about a month before the World Championships, and underwent surgery in November 2022.

Explaining why he decided to retire, he said, “When I lose, I don’t feel as much regret as I used to, and I feel like I’ve had eye surgery, some damage to my body, and my reaction time is slower than before.” was.

He is undecided about his future, and although he has a license to teach middle school and high school physical education, he is not currently considering becoming a coach. Currently studying English and considering studying abroad next year. Ishizawa, who was nicknamed “Micro Tyson” as a hard puncher who boasted a high KO rate despite his height of 156 cm, spent a year or two recharging his life in preparation for a second life. Professional record: 15 fights, 11 wins (10 KOs), 4 losses. (Yosuke Ozaki)