Kyotaro Fujimoto


Kyotaro Fujimoto is a Japanese professional boxer and former kickboxer.
He is the former K-1 Heavyweight Champion and successfully defended the title against kickboxing legend Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. He was also the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka tournament finalist and K-1 Young Japan GP 2007 champion.

Early life

Fujimoto was born in Osaka, Japan on June 23, 1986. He started learning karate of Uomoto-ryū as a child. His parents divorced in 1997 and he lived with his mother, sisters and grandmother.

Kickboxing career

Kyotaro moved to Tokyo and joined Dragon Dojo established by Kensaku Maeda. He debuted on May 17, 2006 against Junichi Hanada.
Kyotaro entered the world of K-1 when he fought and won the K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival tournament in Tokyo by defeating Tatsunori Momose in the semi-final and Takumi Sato in the final, all by decision. This tournament was designed to showcase new talent. He then fought Kyoung Suk Kim during the opening fights at K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 defeating Kim by 2nd Round Knockout.
He further proved himself as a top K-1 contender by defeating the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II and the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii tournament champion Mighty Mo at K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama. Kyotaro was then invited to fight in the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka in which he became the runner up losing to Brazilian Karateka Ewerton Teixeira.
On March 28, 2009, Kyotaro won the K-1 Heavyweight Title tournament by knocking out Melvin Manhoef in semifinals and beating Gokhan Saki in finals by extra round majority decision. Kyotaro became the second fighter after Badr Hari to win the title in K-1 Light Heavyweight division.
On December 5, 2009, he faced Tyrone Spong at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final and lost by unanimous decision.
Kyotaro defended his title against 3 time K-1 Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. Kyotaro knocked Aerts down twice at the end of the 1st Round and then knocked him out with his right hook in the 2nd Round.
At the K-1 Final 16 Kyotaro defeated another legend in Jerome Le Banner. Kyotaro withstood the Frenchman's early power to give him a severe beating in the 3rd round to earn a draw. Le Banner was angry at the decision and walked out of the ring, giving Kyotaro the win by DQ.
His next fight was at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final against 4-time defending champion Semmy Schilt. He was unable to faze his taller opponent, losing by unanimous decision.
He then chose to fight the DREAM Light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. He was knocked down in the second round and again lost by unanimous decision.
In October 2011, Kyotaro relinquished the K-1 Heavyweight title in order to pursue a career in professional boxing.

Boxing career

Kyotaro debuted as a pro boxer on December 31, 2011 when he took a unanimous decision win over Michael O'Donnell in Osaka, Japan. In September 2012, he defeated Chauncy Welliver by unanimous decision, who at the time was ranked #15 in the world by the WBC.
Kyotaro took Welliver's place in the WBC top 15 as a result of this win. Kyotaro lost his next fight against Solomon Haumono via TKO in the 5th round. The fight was held at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 31, 2012. Kyotaro won his first major regional title against Willie Nasio for the vacant WBC - OPBF heavyweight title in 2017.

Kickboxing Titles

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss21–2 Daniel DuboisKO2 21 Dec 2019 Copper Box Arena, London, EnglandFor WBO International, and vacant WBC Silver heavyweight titles
22Win21–1 Suthat KalalekTKO6, 2:0821 Oct 2019 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
21Win20–1 Suthat KalalekRTD6, 3:0025 Sep 2018 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
20Win19–1 Aaron RussellTKO7, 0:287 May 2018 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
19Win18–1 Randall RaymentKO5, 2:504 Nov 2017 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles
18Win17–1 Herman Ene PurcellTKO9, 1:229 May 2017 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF Heavyweight title
Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title
17Win16–1 Willie NasioUD1214 Jan 2017 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant OPBF heavyweight title
16Win15–1 Adam LovelockTKO2, 2:132 Aug 2016 Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan
15Win14–1 Nathan McKayUD82 Aug 2016 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
14Win13–1 David Torres GarciaKO3, 1:0521 Oct 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13Win12–1 Nobuhiro IshidaUD1030 Apr 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
12Win11–1 David RadeffUD818 Dec 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win10–1 Kotatsu TakeharaTKO5, 0:4410 Sep 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
10Win9–1 Nobuhiro IshidaUD830 Apr 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9Win8–1 Kotatsu TakeharaUD825 Nov 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese heavyweight title
8Win7–1 Okello PeterTKO6, 2:5923 Jul 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant Japanese heavyweight title
7Win6–1 Fabrice AuriengTKO7, 1:1117 Apr 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Loss5–1 Solomon HaumonoTKO5, 0:5731 Dec 2012 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanFor vacant OPBF heavyweight title
5Win5–0 Chauncy WelliverUD1019 Sep 2012 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0 Clarence TillmanKO3, 0:4720 Jun 2012 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
3Win3–0 Afa TatupuTKO2, 0:4717 May 2012 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0 Jae-Chan KimTKO2, 1:036 Mar 2012 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Tokyo
1Win1–0 Michael O'DonnellUD631 Dec 2011 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan