Things you need to know about Kenichi Ogawa
The 'Welsh Wizard' Joe Cordina (14-0, 8KOs) has landed his first world title fight with IBF World super-featherweight champion Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1, 18KOs) on June 4, 2022.
The defending champion will graciously travel 6,000 miles from Tokyo to Cardiff to give Cordina the biggest opportunity of his career.
But who is Kenichi Ogawa? BBN have found out some interesting facts below:
Kenichi Ogawa was born February ist, 1988, and is now 34-years-old. He was born in Toyohashi, a city in Aichi Prefecture.
Kenichi is trained by Sendai Tanaka, who is a world-famous boxing coach that's also trained the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera; Erik Morales; Edwin Valero; Jorge Linares; Roman Gonzalez; Takahiro Ao; Lorenzo Parra; and Ryota Murata.
He has been promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing since December last year. Prior to that, he was promoted by Akihiko Honda's Teiken Promotions, one of Japan's foremost present-day promoters.
His nickname is "Crush Right".
He made his professional debut on April 30, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan, winning by third-round TKO. He knocked out his first four opponents and amassed an 8-0 record until he was stopped 11 seconds into round five of eight by Yuki Miyoshi in 2012. He bravely avenged the one and only career defeat 15 months later by blasting his former conqueror away in just 134 seconds.
He took part in the 2011 East Japan "Rookie of the Year" tournament in his fourth fight, which saw him defeat three other top prospects between August to November 2011. As the winner of East Japan, he had the right to face the West Japan champion, Ippo Nishiwaki, who he defeated 50-45 on points over five rounds in December 2011. Within five months, he had defeated four prospects (three of which were unbeaten) with a combined record of 19-1.
He won the Japanese super-featherweight title in 2015, which he defended five times.
He is the No.1 ranked super-featherweight in Japan, out of 133 fighters in the 130lbs weight class. World Rankings: IBF Champion / TBRB #6 / Ring #6 / BoxRec #4.
Ogawa outpointed Tevin Farmer in their December 2017 IBF World super-featherweight clash, but later tested positive for two forms of synthetic testosterone, androstanediol. The Nevada State Athletic Commission invalidated the fight, declaring a No Contest, and delivered a six-month ban. The Japan Boxing Commission also handed Kenichi Ogawa a one-year suspension. His team submitted a report to The NSAC citing that it could have been medicine for Ogawa's skin condition that may have triggered the positive result. Despite their pleas, he didn't return to the ring until 14 monts later in February 2019.
Ho once fought for the WBO Asia Pacific super-featherweight title against Filipino Joe Noynay, but a fifth-round head collision left the defending champion Noynay with such a bad cut, the contest was cancelled and rules as a Technical Decision draw.
He is one of five reigning world champions from Japan, along with Ken Shiro (WBC light-flyweight); Hiroto Kyoguchi (WBA light-flyweight); Kazuto Ioka (WBO super-flyweight); Naoya Inoue (WBA & IBF bantamweight).
Japan’s Ogawa became a world champion in his 29th bout by overpowering dangerous South African Azinga Fuzile in a wide points decision at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York, last November, providing chief support to the Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos Jr. unification lightweight battle. Ogawa dropped his man in rounds five and 12 to win 110-115, 110-115 and 111-114.
The 34-year-old has only tasted defeat once in 29 professional bouts – a stoppage loss at the hands of Yuki Miyoshia at Korakuen Hall back in August 2012.
Stats
Bouts: 29
Wins: 26
Losses: 1
Draws: 1
No Contests: 1
Wins by KO: 18
KO Ratio: 62.07%
Height: 5ft 8in
Reach: 68in
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