Japan is experiencing something of a boxing renaissance on the world stage.
Whilst the sport has always had a strong Japanese scene and whilst the country has always boasted an assortment of world champions, it is only recently that Japan has truly caught fire with international spectatorship.
Naoya Inoue is one reason for this. ‘The Monster’ has been the undisputed champion in multiple weight classes, going 26-0 along the way.
His younger brother Takuma is also making waves, coming off a strong knock-out of Jerwin Ancajas, on a card headlined by Junto Nakatani, who joins the older Inoue on The Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound best fighters list; the first time multiple Japanese fighters have held a spot since Inoue shared one with Shinsuke Yamanaka (27-2-2) in 2016.
Despite this, there is another Japanese fighter, poised to add a third name to the pound-for-pound list. Arguably the greatest minimumweight fighter in the world, Ginjiro Shigeoka is a fighter who will certainly carry the future of Japanese boxing, alongside Inoue and Nakatani.
Shigeoka was born in Kumamoto, Japan to a family of painters. However, Ginjiro and his older brother, Yadai, were drawn to a different form of artistry. Initially starting in karate, his talents were better displayed in the art of boxing, with Yudai joining him.
As an amateur, the 5 ‘0 southpaw has an apparent record of 56-1 (17 KO), with his only loss coming by way of his older brother, also in the minimumweight division and not a traditional loss – as it was a forfeit in a tournament. It was clear from this early age that both brothers were destined to claim the minimumweight division for their own.
Turning to the professional ranks in 2018, Shigeoka would bombard his way through the division, claiming the WBO Asia Pacific title in his fourth bout, with a vicious first round KO of 15-2-1 Clyde Azarcon. After two defences, he would vacate the title to allow his older brother to claim the title, in his own fourth fight.
In a polite and modest interview with The Ring Magazine, Shigeoka would describe his fight against Azarcon as his best so far, stating that “If I had to pick the best one, it would be the win over Clyde Azarcon. I was in really good condition with smooth weight control, which fully enabled me to move well.”
Immediately after vacating the WBO title, he would challenge for the esteemed Japanese Boxing Commission title, one that is dear to the hearts of Japanese fighters. His opponent, 11-2-1 Tatsuro Nakashima, had no answers for Shigeoka’s pure skill and intensity. Nakashima would follow up this loss to a second one against Yudai.
With one defence of the JBC belt, an opportunity for world gold would come via Daniel Valladares for the IBF World Minimumweight title. An accidental headbutt early in the conflict, however, would put the breaks on his world aspirations.
Undeterred, however, Shigeoka immediately wrestled the IBF Interim title from Rene Mark Cuarto with a KO in the ninth. This set up the rematch with Valladares, which Shigeoka won in emphatic fashion, moving into the fifth round. In 11 bouts, Shigeoka had rightly become champion.
Importantly, Shigeoka is confident and aware of his own abilities as a fighter: “I have big advantages in speed, power, technique and accuracy, along with my good sense of landing punches.”
All of this, combined with his advanced knowledge of closing the gap and finishing, has cemented him at the absolute top of his division.
His latest fight, on the same card his older brother lost his world title, was an assertive defeat of Jake Amparo, knocking out the Filipino challenger in two rounds. With this, Shigeoka will certainly be looking to announce himself on a wider scale; or at least, as much as a minimumweight fighter can.
Perhaps a unification could be on the horizon or perhaps an unchallenged win against a rising great such as Hasanboy Dusmatov (6-0) could be in contention.
Either way, Shigeoka is one of the greatest fighters of his generation, alongside Kenshiro Teraji, Kazuto Ioka and, most importantly, Naoya Inoue.