Ryōta Murata


Ryōta Murata is a Japanese professional boxer who has held the WBA middleweight title from 2017 to 2018 and regained it in 2019. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Championships, and gold the following year at the 2012 Olympics. As of August 2019, Murata is ranked as the world's sixth best active middleweight by The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and eighth by BoxRec.

Early life and amateur career

Murata started boxing in the first grade of junior high school. His then trainer was Hiroaki Takami who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Two years later, he started attending Shinko Boxing Gym in Osaka from his home in Nara City. He was trained under the former Japanese super lightweight champion Hiromu Kuwata at that gym for one year.
He proceeded to Minami-Kyoto High School and was coached there by Maekawa Takemoto, who served as the coach of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Murata went on to capture five national titles. Takemoto died in 2010, at the age of 50.
However, after his admission to Toyo University, he suffered a number of DQ losses in the university league. At that time, he trained at the Physical Training School of the Self Defense Forces, on the recommendation of Takemoto.
After winning the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships in the first grade of university in 2004, he captured the bronze medal in the 2005 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, and the silver medal in the 2005 King’s Cup in Bangkok. After that, Murata went on an undefeated streak in his country, winning the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships also in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011,. However, he was eliminated in the preliminary round by Nikolajs Grisunins at the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships, and was also eliminated in the preliminary round by Bakhtiyar Artayev in the 2006 Asian Games.
In the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships he won against Donatas Bondorovas in the first round, but lost to Shawn Estrada in the second round.
At the 2008 1st Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, he won over Narmandakh Shinebayar in the quarterfinal, but lost to Elshod Rasulov in the semifinal. In the 2nd AIBA Asian 2008 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, he was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Homayoun Amiri and ended in the seventh place.
Murata retired as a boxer after failing to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. After graduating from the university, he started coaching at the boxing club while working as an employee of his alma mater. A year and a half later, he resumed his boxing career.
In 2010, he secured the bronze medal by winning over Udai Al-Hindawi in the quarterfinal of the China Open Tournament in Guiyang, China, but lost to Husan Baymatov in the semifinal. In the 2010 Kazakhstan President's Cup in Astana, he won over Levan Guledani in the preliminary round, but lost to Danabek Suzhanov in the quarterfinal.
In July 2011, he won the gold medal at the 21st President's Cup in Jakarta.
At the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, Murata won over his preliminary contest over Leandro Sanchez. In a big upset, Murata stopped two-time world champion Abbos Atoev in the first round. He subsequently defeated Mohammad Sattarpour and Stefan Härtel. By beating Härtel, Murata secured qualification for the 2012 Summer Olympics. In the quarter-final, he beat Darren O'Neill. Finally he defeated Esquiva Falcão to qualify for the final. Murata's run came to an end against Evhen Khytrov, losing a close match and taking home the silver medal.

2012 Olympics

In the 2012 Summer Olympics, second-seeded Murata defeated Algeria's Abdelmalek Rahou 21–12 in the round of 16 at the ExCeL London on 2 August 2012. He subsequently beat Turkey's Adem Kılıççı 17–13 in the quarter-finals on 6 August, and also outpointed Uzbekistan's Abbos Atoev 13–12 in the semi-finals on 10 August. In the final on 11 August, he beat the Esquiva Falcão with a score of 14–13 and took the gold medal.
After winning the quarter-finals, Murata and Florentino were both assured of the first men's boxing medal for their countries since the 1968 Summer Olympics. It was a tough, close bout.
Murata is the hundredth gold medalist for Japan in their Olympic history. His is Japan's first boxing gold medal since Takao Sakurai won in the bantamweight class in 1964, and also is the first-ever boxing medal in a weight class other than bantamweight or flyweight.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee asked the International Boxing Association for a review of the final, but the AIBA turned down the request.
Murata finished his amateur career with a record of 119-18.

Results

Men's Middleweight
  1. Round of 16: Ryōta Murata, Japan def Abdelmalek Rahou, Algeria
  2. Quarterfinals: Ryōta Murata, Japan def Adem Kılıççı, Turkey
  3. Semi-finals: Ryōta Murata, Japan def Abbos Atoev, Uzbekistan
  4. Final: Ryōta Murata, Japan def Esquiva Falcão, Brazil

    Professional career

Murata registered with Misako Boxing Gym in April 2013, and signed with Top Rank in June. He also asked Teiken Promotions for cooperation in promotion. Murata is sponsored by Dentsu. Before turning professional, Murata had declined participation in AIBA Pro Boxing by saying that he intended to retire as a boxer. Upon turning professional, Murata was banned from Japan Amateur Boxing Federation for his disloyal behavior in February 2013.
Qualified as a professional boxer in April 2013, he was cleared to fight in eight or more round bouts. His professional debut took place in a six round bout at a 161 lb catchweight against Akio Shibata at the Ariake Coliseum on 25 August 2013. Murata won the bout by a second round technical knockout. Murata went on to win his first four fights by knockout.
Murata's first fight in the United States took place on November 2015 against Gunnar Jackson. He won the fight via unanimous decision, outworking Jackson throughout most of the fight.
Murata, who is ranked at #4 in the WBC's middleweight ratings at that time, will face Gaston Alejandro Vega of Argentina on 30 January in Shanghai, on the under card of Chinese superstar Zou Shiming against Natan Santana Coutinho. Murata won the fight by 2nd round KO.

WBA (Regular) middleweight champion

After twelve consecutive victories, Murata fought for the vacant WBA title against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam on 27 May 2017. Murata lost a controversial split decision, in a match which many thought he'd won. N'Dam N'Jikam was knocked down in round 4 but survived and got the decision. The two judges who scored the fight for N'Dam N'Jikam were immediately suspended and WBA president Gilberto Mendoza issued a public apology. A rematch was immediately ordered by the WBA, and scheduled for 22 October.
On 22 October, Murata decisively beat N'Dam N'Jikam, who threw in the towel after round 7. Murata's body attack wore his opponent down, he was also able to hurt him with a series of combinations. The fight was attended by 8,500 people at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. This was N'Dam N'Jikam's first stoppage loss.
After the fight, Murata said "I know that you’re going to have a rougher time after you win a title. And there are other very strong champions in this weight class at other organizations. The people here know it. I will aim to be at their level." With the win, Murata became the first Olympic medalist from Japan to win a world title, as well as the first Japanese middleweight world champion since Shinji Takehara.
On 15 April, Murata retained his secondary middleweight world title with a one-sided eighth-round knockout of Emanuele Blandamura at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Defending his 160-pound belt for the first time since knocking out Hassan N'Dam in the seventh round of their October rematch to claim the title, Murata had a similarly easy time with Blandamura.
Murata failed to defend his WBA middleweight world title and suffer his second defeat on 20 October, Saturday in Las Vegas Nevada, losing to mandatory challenger Rob Brant of the United States by unanimous decision, 118-110, 119-109 and 119-109. Brant threw over 1,200 punches to get the decision, wearing Murata out and down over the course of the fight.
Brant made his second defense of WBA "regular" middleweight title against Murata on 12 July 2019 at Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan. Murata regained the WBA "regular" middleweight title with a stunning 64 power punches he landed on Brant in Round 2, forcing referee Luis Pabon to stop the bout 2 minutes 34 seconds into the round. Murata's 64 power punches connected were the second most by a middleweight in a round next to Mike McCallum 's 74 landed punches in a fifth-round TKO of Nicky Walker in 1991.
Murata defended his regained title on 23 May December 2019 at the Yokohama Arena against hard-punching Canadian contender Steven Butler. Murata's power showed up right from the start, but Butler managed to keep up with the champion in the early rounds using his long reach and fast combinations. However, Murata's constant offense, sharp jab and powerful rights started to wear down Butler in round four. Near the end of Round 5, Murata drove Butler to the ropes and began to unleash a series of hard punches, before landing a devastating left hook that caused Butler to crash down on the canvas. Referee Rafael Ramos immediately halted the contest, thus giving Murata the victory by TKO.

Personal life

Murata was married in May 2010. His son was born in May 2011.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
18Win16–2 Steven ButlerTKO5, 2:4523 Dec 2019 Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa, JapanRetained WBA middleweight title
17Win15–2 Robert BrantTKO2, 2:3412 Jul 2019 EDION Arena, Osaka, JapanWon WBA middleweight title
16Loss14–2 Robert BrantUD1220 Oct 2018 Park MGM, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA middleweight title
15Win14–1 Emanuele BlandamuraTKO8, 2:5615 Apr 2018 Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa, JapanRetained WBA middleweight title
14Win13–1 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam7, 3:0022 Oct 2017 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanWon WBA middleweight title
13Loss12–1 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam1220 May 2017 Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, JapanFor vacant WBA middleweight title
12Win12–0 Bruno SandovalKO3, 2:5330 Dec 2016 Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
11Win11–0 George TahdooahnippahTKO1, 1:5223 Jul 2016 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10Win10–0 Felipe Santos PedrosoTKO4, 2:5014 May 2016 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, SAR
9Win9–0 Gastón VegaKO2, 2:2330 Jan 2016 Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China
8Win8–0 Gunnar JacksonUD107 Nov 2015 Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
7Win7–0 Douglas Damiao AtaideTKO5, 0:381 May 2015 Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
6Win6–0 Jessie NicklowUD1030 Dec 2014 Metropolitan Gym, Tokyo, Japan
5Win5–0 Adrian Luna Flores105 Sep 2014 Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0 Jesús Ángel Nerio6, 2:3522 May 2014 Shimazu Arena, Kyoto, Japan
3Win3–0 Carlos NascimentoTKO4, 0:4322 Feb 2014 Cotai Arena, Macau, SAR
2Win2–0 Dave PetersonTKO8, 1:206 Dec 2013 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0 Akio Shibata2, 2:2425 Aug 2013 Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan

Video references