Ryuya Kusakabe Explained

Ryuya Kusakabe
Birth Name:日下部竜也
Birth Date:July 18, 1992
Birth Place:Toyota, Aichi, Japan
Other Names:"Little Giant"
Nationality:Japanese
Fighting Out Of:Nagoya, Japan
Height:163cm
Weight:55kg (121lb)
Style:Kyokushin, Kickboxing
Rank: Black belt in Kyokushin Karate
Stance:Orthodox
Team:Oishi Gym[1]
Yearsactive:2008 - 2014
Kickboxingwins:16
Kickboxingkowins:7
Kickboxinglosses:3
Kickboxingkolosses:2
Box Win:1
Box Kowin:0
Box Loss:1
Box Koloss:0
Boxrec:682884

is a retired Japanese professional kickboxer and boxer. He is the former SHOOT BOXING and REBELS Super Bantamweight champion, as well as the former concurrent WBC Muaythai and WPMF Japan Super Bantamweight champion.

Kickboxing & Muay Thai career

Early career

Amateur career

Kusakabe took part in the super bantamweight (-55 kg) event of the 2008 K-1 Koshien Chūbu region tournament, open exclusively to high-schoolers, on July 6, 2008. He captured the tournament title with three consecutive unanimous decisions in a single day, as he was able to overcome Kosuke Minowa in the quarterfinals, Taishi Hiratsuka in the semifinals and Yusuke Tsuboi in the finals.

This success earned him a place in the K-1 Koshien King of Under 18 Tournament, the opening round of which was held in Tokyo, Japan on October 1, 2008. Kusakabe beat Ryuma Tobe by unanimous decision in the opening round and future two-weight Krush champion Daizo Sasaki by a first-round knockout in the quarterfinals. He advanced the to tournament semifinals, held on December 31, 2008, where he suffered a third-round technical knockout stoppage at the hands of the future two-weight K-1 champion Koya Urabe.

Early professional career

Kusakabe made his debut as a professional competitor against Phetsanga Sakrungruang on March 16, 2008, at the famed Rajadamnern Stadium. He won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout and went on to win two more fights before making his AJKF and Krush debuts against Rikiya Ozawa at AJKF Krush.3 on May 17, 2009. Kusakabe won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 30–27 scorecard.[2] Kusakabe next faced the one-time AJKF Super Bantamweight title challenger Shota Takiya at Krush×Survivor on March 13, 2010. He won the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the bout 30–29 and 30–28 in his favor, while the third ringside official handed in an even 30–30 scorecard.[3]

Super bantamweight champion

Shootboxing champion

On March 30, 2010, it was revealed that Kusakabe would be one of eight participants in the Shootboxing Young Caesars Super Bantamweight tournament, with the eventual winner being guaranteed a title shot.[4] Kusakabe faced Masahiro Fujimoto in the tournament quarterfinals at "Anniversary Series 2 -ISHIN- So no Ni" on April 11.[5] The bout was judged a majority draw after the first three rounds were contested. Two of the ringside officials scored the contest 29–29, while the third judge edged it 29–28 for Kusakaba, who was declared the winner by unanimous decision after an extra fourth round was fought.[6]

Kusakabe faced Masanori Minato in the Young Caesars tournament semifinals at "Anniversary Series 3 -ISHIN- So no San" on June 6, 2010.[7] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout and advanced to the Ceasers Cup final, held on the same day, where he faced Kazuyuki Fushimi, who he had beaten by unanimous decision two years prior. Kusakabe was even more successful in the rematch, as he was able to knock Fushimi out with a hook to the body at the 1:35 minute mark of the final round.[8]

The tournament victory earned Kusakabe the right to challenge Phantom Shinya for the Shootboxing Japan Super Bantamweight Championship at "Anniversary Series 4 -ISHIN- So no Yon" on September 18, 2010.[9] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout to become the youngest champion in Shootboxing history at the age of 18 years and two months, breaking the record previously held by Makoto Ue by a month.[10]

Krush tournament run

On November 11, 2010, it was announced that Kusakabe would be taking part in the Krush Super Bantamweight Inaugural Championship Tournament. Kusakabe faced the former AJKF and RISE bantamweight champion Nobuchika Terado in the quarterfinals, which were held on December 12, 2010.[11] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[12] Kusakabe faced Hiroaki Mizuhara in the tournament semifinals on April 30, 2011. He won the fight by unanimous decision and advanced to the final, held on the same day, where he faced Shota Takiya for the inaugural Krush Super Bantamweight title. Kusakabe suffered the first loss of his professional career, as Takiya was able to stop him with a front kick, near the end of the third and final round.[13]

Transition to muay thai

Kusakabe made his return to muay thai on October 2, 2011, when he faced Arato for the vacant WBC Muay Thai Japan Super Bantamweight title. He won the fight by a fifth-round knockout.[14]

Kusakabe faced Sota Ichinohe at 2011 Fujiwara Matsuri on December 22, 2011.[15] [16] He won the fight by unanimous decision. Kusakabe was next challenged Yusuke Shimizu for the WPMF Japan Super Bantamweight title at M-1 Muay Thai Challenge "Suk Yod Muaythai vol.1 Part 2" on March 25, 2012. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 49–48 and one scorecard of 49–47.[17]

Kusakabe made his first WBC Muay Thai Japan Super Bantamweight title defense against Keisuke Miyamoto at NJKF KICK TO THE FUTURE 6 on September 22, 2012.[18] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[19]

Kusakabe faced Ilias El Hajoui at HOOST CUP SPIRIT 1 on November 23, 2012.[20] He won the fight by a third-round knockout. After he successfully bounced back from his second professional loss at the hands of Miyamoto, Kusakabe made his first WPMF Japan Super Bantamweight title defense against Sota Ichinohe at HOOST CUP KINGS Oujatachi no Kyouen on June 16, 2013. He lost the fight by a fifth-round knockout.[21]

A month later, at REBELS 18 on July 21, Kusakabe faced Taisuke Degai for the inaugural REBELS Super Bantamweight (-55kg) title. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50–47, 49–47 and 49–48.[22]

Kusakabe announced his retirement from the sports of kickboxing and muay thai on February 19, 2014, in order to begin competing in professional boxing.[23]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Muay thai

Karate

Kickboxing and Muay Thai record

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2013-07-21|| Win ||align=left| Taisuke Degai || REBELS.18 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 |-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2013-06-16|| Loss ||align=left| Sota Ichinohe || HOOST CUP KINGS Oujatachi no Kyouen || Nagoya, Japan || KO (Elbow) || 5 ||1:40|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2012-11-23|| Win ||align=left| Ilias El Hajoui || HOOST CUP SPIRIT 1 || Nagoya, Japan || KO (Left hook) || 3 ||

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 2012-09-22 || Loss ||align=left| Keisuke Miyamoto || NJKF KICK TO THE FUTURE 6 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2012-03-25|| Win ||align=left| Yusuke Shimizu || M-1 Muay Thai Challenge "Suk Yod Muaythai vol.1 Part 2" || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2011-12-22|| Win ||align=left| Sota Ichinohe || 2011 Fujiwara Matsuri || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2011-10-02|| Win ||align=left| Arato || WBC Muay Thai Japan "The Path to the World Champion" || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Left hook) || 5 || 2:30|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#fbb;"| 2011-04-30|| Loss||align=left| Shota Takiya || Krush Inaugural Championship Tournament ~Triple Final Round~ Final || Tokyo, Japan ||KO (Front Kick) || 3 || 2:14|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2011-04-30|| Win ||align=left| Hiroaki Mizuhara || Krush Inaugural Championship Tournament ~Triple Final Round~ Semi Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-12-12|| Win ||align=left| Nobuchika Terado || Krush Inaugural Championship Tournament ~First Round~|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-09-18|| Win ||align=left| Phantom Shinya || SHOOT BOXING 25th Anniversary Series 4 -ISHIN- So no Yon || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Punch + knee to the body) || 3 || 1:03|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-06-06|| Win ||align=left| Kazuyuki Fushimi || SHOOT BOXING 25th Anniversary Series 3 -ISHIN- So no San, Young Caesars Tournament Final || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Left hook to the body) || 3 || 1:35|-! style=background:white colspan=9 |

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-06-06|| Win ||align=left| Masanori Minato || SHOOT BOXING 25th Anniversary Series 3 -ISHIN- So no San, Young Caesars Tournament Semifinal || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Punches) || 3 || 2:41

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-04-11|| Win ||align=left| Masahiro Fujimoto || SHOOT BOXING 25th Anniversary Series 2 -ISHIN- So no Ni || Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) || 4 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2010-03-13|| Win ||align=left| Shota Takiya || Krush×Survivor || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 3:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2009-05-17 || Win||align=left| Rikiya Ozawa || AJKF Krush.3 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2009-03-08 || Win||align=left| Genki Minato|| Nagoya Kick 〜Boogie Fight 07〜 || Nagoya, Japan || KO || 2 || 2:14

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2008-05-28|| Win ||align=left| Kazuyuki Fushimi || SHOOT BOXING 2008 Hidama 〜Road to S-cup〜 So no San || Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 2:00

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2008-03-16|| Win ||align=left| Phetsanga Sakrungruang || Kiatyongyut, Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || TKO (Punches) || 4 || |-| colspan=9 | Legend:

|- bgcolor="#fbb"| 2009-12-31 || Loss ||align=left| Tsukasa Fuji || Dynamite!! 2009, Koshien Tournament Reserve Fight || Saitama, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#fbb"| 2009-10-26 || Loss ||align=left| Hiroya Kawabe || K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final - Koshien Tournament, Quarterfinals || Saitama, Japan || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2009-08-10 || Win ||align=left| Ryosuke Sasaki || K-1 Koshien 2009 Tournament FINAL 16 || Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Right cross) || 3 || 1:28

|-|- bgcolor="#fbb"| 2008-12-31 || Loss ||align=left| Koya Urabe || Dynamite!! 2008 - Koshien Tournament, Semifinals || Saitama, Japan || TKO (Doctor stoppage) || 3 || 2:29

|-|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-10-01 || Win||align=left| Daizo Sasaki || K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final - Koshien Tournament, Quarterfinals || Tokyo, Japan || KO (Left High Kick) || 1 || 2:43

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-10-01 || Win||align=left| Ryuma Tobe || K-1 World MAX 2008 World Championship Tournament Final - Koshien Tournament, First Round || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-07-06 || Win||align=left| Yusuke Tsuboi|| 2008 K-1 Koshien Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-07-06 || Win||align=left| Taishi Hiratsuka|| 2008 K-1 Koshien Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Semi Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-07-06 || Win||align=left| Kosuke Minowa|| 2008 K-1 Koshien Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Quarter Final || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 1:30

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-08-03 || Win||align=left| Man☆Mamoru|| Nagoya Kick 〜Boogie Fight 05〜 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-05-17 || Win||align=left| Daichi Sugishita|| Nagoya Kick 〜Boogie Fight 04〜 || Nagoya, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 3 || 2:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2008-04-14 || Win||align=left| Koji Ikimi || Striking Challenge 14 || Nagoya, Japan || KO || 2 ||2:18

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2007-12-22 || Win||align=left| Hiroya Ashino || Team Dragon "Burning Dragon! Part 1" Amateur Challenge Match || Tokyo, Japan ||Decision (Unanimous) || 1 || 3:00

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2007-12-02 || Win||align=left| Kazushi Saga || Striking Challenge 13 || Nagoya, Japan || KO (Left cross) || 2 ||0:50

|- bgcolor="#cfc"| 2007-10-28 || Win||align=left| Tsuyoshi Yamamoto || BRIDGE one match challenge 6th || Tōkai, Aichi Japan || KO (Right cross) || 1 || |-| colspan=9 | Legend:

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
2Win1–1Shuntaro Ouchi4Jul 20, 2014
1Loss0–1Takashi Igarashi4Apr 6, 2014

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 格闘技ウェブマガジンGBR-インタビュー「この人に聞け!」 . gbring.com . 20 July 2023.
  2. Web site: 【全日本キック】60kg級で政権交代!"狂拳"竹内裕二が"日本最強"山本真弘をKO . gbring.com . 20 July 2023.
  3. Web site: 【Krush×サバイバー】大月晴明、久保優太が勝利!寺戸伸近はKENJIに圧勝 . gbring.com . 20 July 2023.
  4. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】4・11スーバーバンタム級トーナメントに日下部竜也が参戦 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  5. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】4・11トーナメント組み合わせ決定、日下部と藤本が激突 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  6. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】究極のド突き合いをボーウィーが制す!梅野孝明が初敗北 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  7. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】6・6スーパーバンタム級トーナメントが決勝戦迎える . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  8. Web site: SHOOT BOXING 25TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES第3戦 『維新-ISHIN-其の参』 . shootboxing.org . 6 June 2010 . 22 July 2023.
  9. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】9・18ファントム進也VS日下部竜也、鈴木博昭VS石川剛司 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  10. Web site: 【シュートボクシング】アンディ・サワーがまさかの絞め技で日菜太に48秒で勝つ . efight.jp . 18 September 2010 . 22 July 2023.
  11. Web site: 【Krush】12・12寺戸伸近VS日下部竜也がいきなり実現!野杁正明は青津潤平と対戦 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  12. News: Fight&Life Vol.23 2011年4月号.
  13. Web site: 【Krush】新世代ファイターが大躍進!日下部が寺戸を撃破、卜部も石川に判定勝利 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  14. Web site: 2冠王・神村エリカが夢ののWBC王座へ前進 - スポーツナビ . sports.yahoo.co.jp . 22 July 2023.
  15. Web site: 【藤原祭り】12・22日下部竜也、WPMF日本王座への挑戦権をかけて一戸総太と対戦 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  16. Web site: 12・22『2011藤原祭~冬の陣~』梅野源治x森井洋介+藤原敏男 初代タイガーマスク 男盛 アントニオ小猪木 . miruhon.net . 20 December 2011 . 22 July 2023.
  17. Web site: 【M-1】藤原あらしが現役ムエタイランカーに惜敗!第2のブアカーオはTKO勝ち . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  18. Web site: 9・22 KICK TO THE FUTURE 6 大和哲也の対戦相手が変更 イギリスから新たな強豪が来襲! . miruhon.net . September 2012 . 22 July 2023.
  19. Web site: 【MA日本キック】10・7 16戦無敗の秋元皓貴、王者・森井を挑発「負ける気はしない。次もしっかりKO!」 . gbring.com . 22 July 2023.
  20. Web site: 【ホーストカップ】11・23日下部竜也「欧州王者撃破でステップアップしたい」 . efight.jp . 22 November 2012 . 22 July 2023.
  21. Web site: 【ホーストカップ】佐藤嘉洋、長島自演乙を撃破し3連勝 . efight.jp . 16 June 2013 . 22 July 2023.
  22. Web site: 【レベルス】メインが不完全燃焼のドロー、早期再戦へ . efight.jp . 21 July 2013 . 22 July 2023.
  23. Web site: 【レベルス】55kg級王者・日下部竜也が引退、ボクサーを目指す . efight.jp . 19 February 2014 . 20 July 2023.
  24. Web site: 【K-1甲子園】関東地区代表はK-1ユース・卜部弘嵩の弟、功也に決定 . gbring.com . 20 July 2023.
  25. Web site: 【K-1甲子園】最強の高校生を決める戦い。HIROYAが快勝も、藤鬥嘩裟は判定負け . gbring.com . 20 July 2023.
  26. Web site: 日下部 竜也プロフィール . topathlete.co.jp . 22 February 2022 . 22 July 2023.
  27. Web site: 空手道MAC 第8回ジャパンカップ ジュニア空手道選手権大会報告 . karatedo-mac.com . 20 July 2023.
  28. Web site: 第1回JKJO全日本ジュニア空手道選手権大会 大会結果 . karatedo-mac.com . 20 July 2023.