Yuko Kuroki Explained

Yuko Kuroki
Birth Date:28 March 1991[1]
Birth Place:Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan[2]
Nationality:Japanese
Weight:Minimumweight, Atomweight
Height:158cm
Reach:158cm
Style:Southpaw
Boxrec:481085
Total:32
Wins:22
Ko:9
Losses:8
Draws:2

is a Japanese professional boxer who is a former two-weight World champion having held the WBC female minimumweight title as well as the WBO and WBA female atomweight titles during her career.

Career

A professional boxer since 2008, Kuroki first challenged for a World title when she took on IBF female minimumweight title holder Etsuko Tada at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan, on 3 March 2013, losing by unanimous decision.[3] [4]

However, she did not have to wait long to get her hands on a global belt as she won the WBC female minimumweight World title on 17 May 2014, beating defending champion Mari Ando by unanimous decision at Azalea Taisho, Osaka, Japan.[5] [6]

After five successful defenses, she lost her title on 17 December 2017, to Momo Koseki slipping to a unanimous decision defeat at Kyuden Gym, Fukuoka, Japan.[7] [8]

Moving down a weight division, Kuroki faced Saemi Hanagata at Korakuen Hall on 29 September 2018, with the vacant IBF female atomweight World title on the line. She lost by split decision with one ringside judge scoring the bout 96–95 in her favour while the other two gave the contest 96–94 for her opponent.[9] [10]

Kuroki claimed the WBO female atomweight World title on 1 September 2022, winning via unanimous decision against Nanae Suzuki at Korakuen Hall.[11] [12] At the same venue on 30 March 2023, she defended the title in a rematch with Suzuki, again taking a unanimous decision win.[13] [14]

On 5 August 2023, Kuroki became a unified World champion when she defeated WBA female atomweight title holder Monserrat Alarcón by majority decision at Central Gym, Kobe, Japan. Two judges scored 96-94 for Kuroki while the third had the fight a 95–95 tie.[15] [16]

Returning to Korakuen Hall on 12 January 2024, she lost her titles to Eri Matsuda going down by split decision with one judge giving her the contest 96-94 but the other two awarding it to Matsuda 96-94 and 97–93.[17] [18]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32Loss22–8–2Eri MatsudaSD10 (10)12 January 2024
31Win22–7–2Monserrat AlarcónMD10 (10)5 August 2023
30Win21–7–2Nanae SuzukiUD10 (10)30 March 2023
29Win20–7–2Nanae SuzukiUD10 (10)1 September 2022
28Win19–7–2Sothita SitthichaiTKO2 (8)28 May 2022
27Loss18–7–2Mizuki ChimotoMD8 (8)7 June 2021
26Draw18–6–2Nao IkeyamaSD8 (8)14 April 2019
25Loss18–6–1Saemi HanagataSD10 (10)29 September 2018
24Win18–5–1Momoko KandaUD8 (8)17 April 2018
23Loss17–5–1Momo KosekiUD10 (10)17 December 2017
22Win17–4–1Mari AndoUD10 (10)18 December 2016
21Win16–4–1Norj GuroKO8 (10)6 June 2016
20Win15–4–1Nancy FrancoUD10 (10)20 December 2015
19Win14–4–1Kanittha NinthimTKO3 (8)16 August 2015
18Win13–4–1Masae AkitayaUD10 (10)9 May 2015
17Win12–4–1Katia GutiérrezSD10 (10)1 November 2014
16Win11–4–1Mari AndoUD10 (10)17 May 2014
15Win10–4–1Aisah AlicoTKO3 (8)16 March 2014
14Draw9–4–1Saemi HanagataSD10 (10)13 December 2013
13Loss9–4Saemi HanagataUD10 (10)24 June 2013
12Loss9–3Etsuko TadaUD10 (10)3 March 2013
11Win9–2Mika OdaTKO2 (8)16 November 2012
10Win8–2Amara NaktakuUD10 (10)25 December 2011
9Win7–2Wassana KamdeeTKO4 (10)8 July 2011
8Win6–2Na Kyung KimTKO3 (8)8 May 2011
7Win5–2Qi LiuKO3 (6)26 December 2010
6Win4–2Rinks NakaharaUD4 (4)17 October 2010
5Win3–2Dalin LiuUD4 (4)23 May 2010
4Win2–2Amy BerezowskiTKO2 (4)19 December 2009
3Loss1–2Naoko ShibataMD4 (4)26 June 2009
2Win1–1Natsume YokozekiUD4 (4)5 April 2009
1Loss0–1Kumiko NishidaMD4 (4)20 December 2008

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yuko Kuroki. topology.com. 2024-05-28.
  2. Web site: Boxrec profile of Yuko Kuroki. Boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.
  3. Web site: Etsuko Tada vs Yuko Kuroki. boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.
  4. Web site: All Female Boxing Card in Japan!. womenofboxing.com. 2024-05-28.
  5. Web site: Yuko Kuroki vs Mari Ando. boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.
  6. Web site: Kuroki-Gutierrez WBC Title Clash on November 1st. 7 October 2014 . Boxing Scene. 2024-05-28.
  7. Web site: Momo Koseki dethrones Yuko Kuroki for WBC minimum flyweight title. 17 December 2017 . Japan Times. 2024-05-28.
  8. Web site: Saemi Hanagata vs Yuko Kuroki. boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.
  9. Web site: Hanagata and Kuroki go to the judges in brawl for IBF crown!. Asian Boxing. 2024-05-28.
  10. Web site: Momo Koseki vs Yuko Kuroki. boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.
  11. Web site: Ex-champs Kuroki, Iwakawa regain world female belts. 3 September 2022 . fightnews.com. 2024-05-28.
  12. Web site: Nanae Suzuki vs Yuko Kuroki. boxrec.com. 2024-06-12.
  13. Web site: Kuroki decisions Suzuki to retain WBO's world female atomweight title in direct rematch. Boxing News. 2024-05-28.
  14. Web site: Kuroki defeats Suzuki, keeps WBO female 102lb belt. 31 March 2023 . fightnews.com. 2024-05-28.
  15. Web site: Kuroki dethroned Alarcon in Kobe. 6 August 2023 . wbaboxing.com. 2024-05-28.
  16. Web site: Kuroki unifies WBA, WBO female 102lb belts. 7 August 2023 . fight news.com. 2024-05-28.
  17. Web site: Matsuda decisions Kuroki, wins WBA/WBO world atomweight titles in Tokyo. Boxing News. 2024-05-28.
  18. Web site: Yuko Kuroki vs Eri Matsuda. boxrec.com. 2024-05-28.