Masashi Kudo (boxer)
Masashi Kudo (工藤 政志, Kudō Masashi, born August 24, 1951) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 1979. He held the WBA and lineal super welterweight titles from 1978 to 1979.
Masashi Kudo | |
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Statistics | |
Weight(s) | |
Nationality | Japanese |
Born | Gojōme, Akita, Japan | August 24, 1951
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 24 |
Wins | 23 |
Wins by KO | 12 |
Losses | 1 |
Biography
Kudo was an amateur wrestler during high school, and only became a professional boxer when he failed to join the Japanese Olympic wrestling team for the 1972 Munich Olympics. He made his professional debut in May, 1973, and won the Japanese middleweight title in his 6th professional fight. He defended the title 8 times before returning it to Japanese Boxing Commission.
In 1978, he moved down to the light middleweight division to challenge Eddie Gazo for the WBA and lineal light middleweight titles. Kudo won by 15 round split-decision, becoming the second Japanese boxer to capture the world light middleweight crown since Koichi Wajima.[1]
Kudo defended his title three times from 1978 - 1979 before losing to undefeated challenger Ayub Kalule by unanimous decision for his only professional loss. He announced his retirement after the fight at only 28 years of age. His record was 23-1-0 (12KOs).
Kudo was possibly one of the least technically skilled champions in boxing history. He compensated for his lack of skill by displaying an enormous amount of stamina and strength, and retired without suffering a single knockdown.
Professional boxing record
24 fights | 23 wins | 1 loss |
By knockout | 12 | 0 |
By decision | 11 | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 | Loss | 23–1 | Ayub Kalule | UD | 15 | Oct 24, 1979 | City Gymnasium, Akita City, Akita, Japan | Lost WBA and The Ring light-middleweight titles |
23 | Win | 23–0 | Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez | TKO | 12 (15) | Jun 20, 1979 | City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan | Retained WBA and The Ring light-middleweight titles |
22 | Win | 22–0 | Manuel Ricardo Gonzalez | MD | 15 | May 14, 1979 | Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBA and The Ring light-middleweight titles |
21 | Win | 21–0 | Ho Joo | SD | 15 | Dec 13, 1978 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBA and The Ring light-middleweight titles |
20 | Win | 20–0 | Eddie Gazo | SD | 15 | Aug 09, 1978 | City Gymnasium, Akita City, Akita, Japan | Won WBA and The Ring light-middleweight titles |
19 | Win | 19–0 | Katsuo Esashi | PTS | 10 | May 02, 1978 | Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
18 | Win | 18–0 | Katsuo Esashi | RTD | 3 (10) | Oct 31, 1977 | Tokyo, Japan | |
17 | Win | 17–0 | Peter Nanboku | KO | 9 (10) | Sep 06, 1977 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
16 | Win | 16–0 | Saburo Sakai | KO | 7 (10) | Jul 02, 1977 | Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan | |
15 | Win | 15–0 | Yuichiro Watanabe | PTS | 10 | May 03, 1977 | Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
14 | Win | 14–0 | Saburo Sakai | KO | 9 (10) | Jan 30, 1977 | Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
13 | Win | 13–0 | Nessie Horiguchi | PTS | 10 | Sep 26, 1976 | Tokyo, Japan | |
12 | Win | 12–0 | Yuichiro Watanabe | KO | 3 (10) | Jun 27, 1976 | Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
11 | Win | 11–0 | Saburo Sakai | KO | 1 (10) | Mar 28, 1976 | Tokyo, Japan | |
10 | Win | 10–0 | Takeshi Izumi | KO | 4 (10) | Jan 27, 1976 | Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
9 | Win | 9–0 | Yuji Miyagoshi | UD | 10 | Nov 30, 1975 | Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
8 | Win | 8–0 | Yuji Miyagoshi | PTS | 10 | Jul 18, 1975 | Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese middleweight title |
7 | Win | 7–0 | Takeshi Watanabe | PTS | 10 | Jun 01, 1975 | Tokyo, Japan | |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Nobuyoshi Ozaki | PTS | 10 | Mar 02, 1975 | Tokyo, Japan | Won vacant Japanese middleweight title |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Cassius Naito | PTS | 10 | Jul 29, 1974 | Gifu, Gifu, Japan | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Seiji Nagai | KO | 4 (4) | Dec 27, 1973 | Tokyo, Japan | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Hachiro Kuroishi | KO | 2 (4) | Dec 03, 1973 | Tokyo, Japan | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Keiji Miyawaki | KO | 3 (4) | Sep 30, 1973 | Tokyo, Japan | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Toshio Oki | RTD | 3 (4) | May 18, 1973 | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |
See also
- List of light middleweight boxing champions
- List of WBA world champions
- List of Japanese boxing world champions
- Boxing in Japan
References
- "Masashi Kudo - Lineal Junior Middleweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
External links
Achievements | ||
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Preceded by Eddie Gazo |
Lineal light middleweight champion August 9, 1978 - October 24, 1979 |
Succeeded by Ayub Kalule |
Preceded by Eddie Gazo |
WBA light middleweight champion August 9, 1978 - October 24, 1979 |
Succeeded by Ayub Kalule |