Ougon Jidai-Golden Era

By James Blears

Ougon Jidai means Golden Era and that is what Japanese Boxing is going through, experiencing and enjoying right now.

The already legendary Naoya Inoue has been awarded Boxer of the year, by the Japanese Boxing Commission and the boxing sphere of the Tokyo Writers Club.

It`s the ninth time Naoya has won this accolade and the eighth consecutive time. An extraordinary feat for Japan`s greatest ever boxer, whose pro career has spanned 2012, right up to the present day. A four- division world champion including undisputed in two, Naoya has successfully defended his undisputed super-bantamweight title four times this past year. Ye Joon Kim TKO 4, Ramon Cardenas TKO 8, Murodjon Akhmadaliev UD and David Picasso UD.

In a six decades career in boxing, Bob Arum has seen them all, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Yet he unequivocally and emphatically insists that Naoya Inoue is the Best he`s ever seen, also stating: ‘’Naoya is a unique and complete talent. Both a great puncher and a great strategist.’’

Yet the jewel in the crown, is yet to come. As Naoya enthuses: ‘’I`ll fight Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome in May. That`s our promise to all boxing fans. I`ll clash with Nakatani with everything that I`ve got.’’  Aged 32, ‘’Monster’’ is 32-0, 27 KO`s. Champion in four divisions. ‘’Big Bang’’ four years younger, also undefeated with a record of 32-0, 24 KO`s. A World Champion in three weight divisions. This will be the biggest boxing match in Japanese history and the victor will be Japan`s 2026 Boxer of the Year.

Hopefully Monster and Big Bang`s entrance into the cavernous Tokyo Dome, will be accompanied by the fantastic and spectacular song: Big in Japan by Alphaville. They themselves are Munsters, coming from that particular part of Germany.

It would take almost as long as Bob Arum`s illustrious career to describe the sheen brilliance of Japanese Boxing, building up to this shining golden ray zenith. The sun never set on the British Empire, Japan is described as The Land of the Rising Sun and Japanese Boxing is currently at High Noon. So, I`m focusing on two iconic Japanese boxers. One made the cake and the other helped ice it. They are Masahiko ‘’Fighting’’ Harada and Takashi Miura.

Hale and hearty at eighty-two, Fighting Harada is both a pioneer and an icon of Japanese Boxing. Undisputed flyweight champion and undisputed bantamweight champion, he was a mini-powerhouse crafting an illustrious record of 55-7. 22 KO`s, from 1960-70.  In the words of the immortal journalist Reg Gutteridge, Masahiko built up his legs, torso and broad shoulders as a youngster, hauling hundredweight sacks of rice. Fighting came naturally. Hence his nickname.  He fought Eder Jofre, Pone Kingpetch, Jose Medel, Alan Rudkin, Lionel Rose and Johnny Famechon. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

Fighting Harada became President of the Japanese Boxing Commission in 2002. In 2019 he presented Naoya Inoue the Muhammad Ali Trophy, as the winner of the World Boxing Super Series for the bantamweight division, after the most magnificently dramatic, fantastic and memorable career defining fight against Nonito Donaire.

First there was ‘’The Beast’’ and then there was ‘’The Monster.’’ Prior to Naoya Inoue there was Takashi Miura. His nicknames were: ‘’Bomber Left’’ ‘’The Mexican Assassin’’ and ‘’The Beast.’’  Takashi competed as a pro boxer 2003-2017.  A formidable southpaw, he was WBC super-featherweight champion 2013-2015, although it seems much longer, as he was busy.   He defeated Gamaliel Diaz to become champion on home turf. He then ventured to the Plaza de Toros in Cancun for a thrilling slugfest against Sergio ‘’Yeyo’’ Thompson.  Takashi dropped Sergio in the second and in the sixth. Sergio returned the favour in round eight, but Takashi won a UD.  He also defeated Dante Jardon, Edgar Puerta and Billy Dib.

But then for this fifth defence, along came iron-willed  Francisco ‘’Bandido’’ Vargas.  On a night to remember and for that one glorious night, Las Vegas became Las Vargas, as Francisco fought back from the brink of defeat to TKO Takashi in the ninth.

Francisco punished Takashi in the opening round. But by the fourth Bandido`s right eye was swelling alarmingly and he was put down by a savage left hook. By the fifth, Francisco`s right eye was cut above and below. The onslaught continued and in the eighth he was buckled by an even bigger left hook. The Ring Doctor carefully examined battered Francisco and decided he could come out for the ninth. Desperate and ruthless, Bandido came out with fists blazing. A four- punch combination felled Takashi, he got up but was overwhelmed and the Referee stopped it at 1.31. The greatest comeback since Diego Corrales and Lazarus…in that order!

Takashi`s tally of Mexicans didn`t end there. He KO`d Mickey Roman in twelve and lost a UD to WBC super-featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt.

Japanese boxing couldn`t and wouldn`t be in the fabulous shape and position it is today, without Promoter genius Akihiko Honda. He has led Teiken Promotions since taking over from his father Akira Honda in 1964. Akihiko promoted Mike Tyson`s fights in Japan.

He has also helped guide the careers of Takashi Miura, Hozumi Hasegawa, Jiro Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Hamada, Toshiaki Nishioka, Yuichi Kasai, Shinsuke Yamanka, Takahiro Ao, Genaro Hernandez, Roman Gonzalez, Edwin Valero, Jorge Linares, Carlos Cuadras, Cesar Bazan, Jose Luis Bueno, to name a select few. What a Star lineup! Mr Honda Jr was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.

For decades he was ably helped by Miss Haru Nagano, ‘’The Godmother of Japanese Boxing,’’ who from early morning to late at night. ran Teiken Gym, with ship-shape efficiency, precision and caring kindness. She was hired as a Secretary by Mr Akira Honda shortly after World War Two. With her organizational skills and attention to detail, she evolved as his right arm and then brilliantly maintained the continuity with his son Akihiko, until her passing in January 2005 aged ninety- nine.

Japanese Boxing has reached its golden era through the brilliance but also dedicated hard work of its boxers, coaches promoters and every member of its boxing community. Fundamentally through Japanese ethos.  One saying goes: ‘’Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination leading to success.’’

Another aptly urges: ‘’Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it. Be original.’’