Japanese boxing is currently experiencing a golden era, holding an impressive 11 male world titles. The nation is home to pound-for-pound stars like Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani, who may soon face off in a historic and highly anticipated match.
This success isn`t just a passing moment; it signals a bright future for Japanese boxing, fueled by a wave of talented young fighters emerging from the amateur ranks.
One of Japan`s most promising amateur boxers is now preparing to make his professional debut in the United States on a major fight card this year. He aims to become a global boxing superstar in the years to come.
Reito Tsutsumi, younger brother of super-featherweight contender Hayato Tsutsumi, boasts an outstanding amateur record of 59 wins and only 2 losses. He has secured five high school national championships, a gold medal at the 2021 World Youth Championships in Poland, and the 2023 All-Japanese University Championships.
Building on this impressive background, Tsutsumi will achieve something even Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani didn`t – he will debut with an A-class license. This prestigious license makes him only the third Japanese boxer in history to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Ryota Murata and Tomoya Tsuboi.
This A-class license allows the 23-year-old southpaw to immediately participate in eight-round fights. However, despite his world title aspirations, Tsutsumi will begin his professional journey with a six-round bout.
Boxing reporter Mike Coppinger announced on social media that Tsutsumi`s debut will take place in a unique setting – Times Square in New York City. He is scheduled to face Levale Whittington from Chicago, who has a record of 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 draw (1 KO). Their six-round super-featherweight contest is expected to attract a global audience.
At a press conference announcing his move to professional boxing, Tsutsumi stated his ambition to become a world champion within his first 10 professional fights. He also aims to dominate multiple weight divisions, starting with the featherweight division, even though his debut fight will be at 130lbs.
Tsutsumi commented, “There are currently no Japanese world champions in this weight class. I know it will be a challenging path. My goal is to become a world champion by my tenth fight. I want to consistently challenge strong opponents, win titles across multiple weight classes, and ultimately become a unified champion.”
