Katsunari Takayama to fight for IBO title in December
Earlier today it was announced that Japanese legend and 1-man highlight reel Katsunari Takayama (34-9-0-1, 12) [高山 勝成], one of the most fun to watch and exciting fighters in recent memory, is set to return to the ring December 18th as he looks to add an IBO title to his collection of belts.
Takayama, a 24 year veteran of the sport, will be facing off with 23 year old unbeaten Australian fighter Kha Lu (7-0, 3) in a bout for the IBO Minimumweight title, with the contest being held on neutral territory in the Philippines. During his long career Takayama has been a multi-time world champion winning the WBC, IBF and WBO world titles, along with the WBA "interim" title, he has also been a genuine trailblazer for Japanese boxing, and a man who had made his name, not just as an all action fighter, but also someone who has traveled for the biggest and always put on a show.
After debuting in 2000 Takayama would win the 2001 All Japan Rookie of the Year, before claiming the WBC world title in 2005, the Japanese title in 2006, the WBA "interim" title that same year. In 2009 he faced Roman Gonzalez, going 12 rounds with the Nicaraguan great, before handing in his JBC license and chasing the IBF world title around the world. That chase saw him fighting with Nkosinathi Joyi twice, in South Africa, before claiming the title in his third shot, beating Mario Rodriguez in Mexico for the title in 2013. By that point the JBC, who hadn’t recognised the WBO or IBF titles previously, had changed their stance and Takayama would return to fighting in Japan. Defending the IBF title twice He would return to Mexico the following year, losing in a hotly contested unification bout with Francisco Rodriguez Jr, the then WBO champion,, in a FOTY contender. When Rodriguez left the division Takayama would go on to claim the vacant IBF and WBO titles, in a very peculiar vacant title unification bout, with a win over Go Odaira.Sadly he would hand back the WBO title soon afterwards and make 2 defense of the IBF title before losing to Jose Argumeda in 2015, then reclaim the WBO title with a win over Riku Kano in 2016. He then retired, citing that he wanted to go to the Olympics, whilst he failed to qualified he had once again proven he was willing to fight against the grain, as he had when he chased the IBF title.
Despite failing to qualify for the Olympics Takayama wasn't done with the sport, returning in 2020 to beat former world champion Reiya Konishi before losing in a Light Flyweight world title fight to Elwin Soto, in what was Takayama's US debut. It was assumed that loss would be the end of him, but he has subsequently picked up two wins, beating Filipino fighters Joel Lino and Jerome Baloro in 2023. During his career he also went back to school, completing high school in his 30’s and graduating from university at the age of 37.
Whilst Takayama has carved out a genuine legacy as one of the sport's good guys and most exciting, especially with those that follow the lower weight classes, the same can’t be said for his young opponent here. Lu began his career as a professional in 2022 and has fought all 7 of his bouts at The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington. He has faced just a single fighter with a winning record, the then 4-3 Oatkowit Kamlangcharoey, and has had 25 career rounds. This is a huge step up for him, but a chance to claim a win over a genuine legend and put his name on the map, whilst claiming his first notable international title.
Whilst the IBO title isn’t well regarded, and the JBC don’t recognise it, a win for Takayama would see him become one of the very, very few fighters to win versions of the 4 main titles along with the IBO title, something no other Japanese fighter has managed. He has long been the main looking to do things differently and even at the age of 41 he continues to try and carve out his own very unique legacy.
Takayama, a 24 year veteran of the sport, will be facing off with 23 year old unbeaten Australian fighter Kha Lu (7-0, 3) in a bout for the IBO Minimumweight title, with the contest being held on neutral territory in the Philippines. During his long career Takayama has been a multi-time world champion winning the WBC, IBF and WBO world titles, along with the WBA "interim" title, he has also been a genuine trailblazer for Japanese boxing, and a man who had made his name, not just as an all action fighter, but also someone who has traveled for the biggest and always put on a show.
After debuting in 2000 Takayama would win the 2001 All Japan Rookie of the Year, before claiming the WBC world title in 2005, the Japanese title in 2006, the WBA "interim" title that same year. In 2009 he faced Roman Gonzalez, going 12 rounds with the Nicaraguan great, before handing in his JBC license and chasing the IBF world title around the world. That chase saw him fighting with Nkosinathi Joyi twice, in South Africa, before claiming the title in his third shot, beating Mario Rodriguez in Mexico for the title in 2013. By that point the JBC, who hadn’t recognised the WBO or IBF titles previously, had changed their stance and Takayama would return to fighting in Japan. Defending the IBF title twice He would return to Mexico the following year, losing in a hotly contested unification bout with Francisco Rodriguez Jr, the then WBO champion,, in a FOTY contender. When Rodriguez left the division Takayama would go on to claim the vacant IBF and WBO titles, in a very peculiar vacant title unification bout, with a win over Go Odaira.Sadly he would hand back the WBO title soon afterwards and make 2 defense of the IBF title before losing to Jose Argumeda in 2015, then reclaim the WBO title with a win over Riku Kano in 2016. He then retired, citing that he wanted to go to the Olympics, whilst he failed to qualified he had once again proven he was willing to fight against the grain, as he had when he chased the IBF title.
Despite failing to qualify for the Olympics Takayama wasn't done with the sport, returning in 2020 to beat former world champion Reiya Konishi before losing in a Light Flyweight world title fight to Elwin Soto, in what was Takayama's US debut. It was assumed that loss would be the end of him, but he has subsequently picked up two wins, beating Filipino fighters Joel Lino and Jerome Baloro in 2023. During his career he also went back to school, completing high school in his 30’s and graduating from university at the age of 37.
Whilst Takayama has carved out a genuine legacy as one of the sport's good guys and most exciting, especially with those that follow the lower weight classes, the same can’t be said for his young opponent here. Lu began his career as a professional in 2022 and has fought all 7 of his bouts at The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington. He has faced just a single fighter with a winning record, the then 4-3 Oatkowit Kamlangcharoey, and has had 25 career rounds. This is a huge step up for him, but a chance to claim a win over a genuine legend and put his name on the map, whilst claiming his first notable international title.
Whilst the IBO title isn’t well regarded, and the JBC don’t recognise it, a win for Takayama would see him become one of the very, very few fighters to win versions of the 4 main titles along with the IBO title, something no other Japanese fighter has managed. He has long been the main looking to do things differently and even at the age of 41 he continues to try and carve out his own very unique legacy.