Yamanaka survives test, equals Hasegawa’s record
With a 12-round WBC title slugfest win over Liborio Solis on Friday in Kyoto, Shinsuke Yamanaka made his 10th bantamweight title defence and put himself in the ranks of Japan’s greatestever boxers.
Yamanaka improved his unbeaten career record to an impressive 25 wins and two draws while joining Hozumi Hasegawa (35-5) in third on the list of most successful Japanese male fighters by number of title defences.
“I am proud that I am up there with the same number of title defences as [the boxer who was] the bantamweight world champion before I turned pro,” said the 33-year-old Yamanaka after a unanimous decision win over Solis, despite being knocked down twice in the third round.
“I was down twice and couldn’t show you my best and I’m sorry,” Yamanaka told the crowd after Friday’s fight.
“I didn’t dwell on the knockdowns and began to use my footwork from midway through to display my boxing.”
The Konan, Shiga Prefecture-native can now focus on catching Yoko Gushiken, who took and then defended the WBA world light flyweight title a record 13 times between 1976 and 1981.
But Yamanaka is not the only boxer chasing Gushiken’s record. The 2015 Japanese boxer of the year, Takashi Uchiyama, is also looking to set the record after making 11 title defences since winning the WBA super featherweight belt in 2010.
Yamanaka says he needs to keep sharp and unlike some champions he is not looking for easy-to-beat opponents to pad his record in pursuit of Gushiken.
“Staying motivated is important,” says Yamanaka. “Even if it is away from home I’d like to get a unification fight set up against a champion [from a different organisation].
“I gave [the fans] a fright [against Solis] and I am disappointed in myself about that. [Winning] was a result of me drawing on all my experience.
“I can’t rest on my laurels and want to aim higher.”