# Kyotaro Fujimoto

Kyotaro Fujimoto (藤本 京太郎, Fujimoto Kyōtarō, born June 23, 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2011 to 2019 and a kickboxer. He began competing again as a professional kickboxer in 2021.
He is the former K-1 Heavyweight Champion and successfully defended the title against kickboxing legend Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. He was also the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Fukuoka tournament finalist and K-1 Young Japan GP 2007 champion.

## Early life

Fujimoto was born in Osaka, Japan, on June 23, 1986. He started learning karate of Uomoto-ryū (魚本流) as a child. His parents divorced in 1997 and he lived with his mother, sisters and grandmother.

## Kickboxing career

Kyotaro moved to Tokyo and joined Dragon Dojo established by Kensaku Maeda. He debuted on May 17, 2006, against Junichi Hanada.
Kyotaro entered the world of K-1 when he fought and won the K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival tournament in Tokyo by defeating Tatsunori Momose in the semi-final and Takumi Sato in the final, all by decision. This tournament was designed to showcase new talent. He then fought Kyoung Suk Kim during the opening fights at K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 defeating Kim by 2nd Round Knockout.
He further proved himself as a top K-1 contender by defeating the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Las Vegas II and the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii tournament champion Mighty Mo at K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama. Kyotaro was then invited to fight in the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka in which he became the runner up losing to Brazilian Karateka Ewerton Teixeira.
On March 28, 2009, Kyotaro won the K-1 Heavyweight (-100 kg) Title tournament by knocking out Melvin Manhoef in semifinals and beating Gokhan Saki in finals by extra round majority decision. Kyotaro became the second fighter after Badr Hari to win the title in K-1 Light Heavyweight division.
On December 5, 2009, he faced Tyrone Spong at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final and lost by unanimous decision.
Kyotaro defended his title against 3 time K-1 Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama. Kyotaro knocked Aerts down twice at the end of the 1st Round and then knocked him out with his right hook in the 2nd Round.
At the K-1 Final 16 Kyotaro defeated another legend in Jerome Le Banner. Kyotaro withstood the Frenchman's early power to give him a severe beating in the 3rd round to earn a draw. Le Banner was angry at the decision and walked out of the ring, giving Kyotaro the win by DQ.
His next fight was at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final against 4-time defending champion Semmy Schilt. He was unable to faze his taller opponent, losing by unanimous decision.
He then chose to fight the DREAM (MMA) Light-heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. He was knocked down in the second round and again lost by unanimous decision.
In October 2011, Kyotaro relinquished the K-1 Heavyweight title in order to pursue a career in professional boxing.

### Return to K-1

In late 2020, Kyotaro announced he would be returning to kickboxing and is expected to compete at K’Festa 4 on January 24, 2021. He was scheduled to fight Kosuke Jitsutaka. The event was later rescheduled for March 31, 2021. He won his fight against Kosuke Jitsutaka by a second-round knockout.
Kyotaro was scheduled to face the K-1 Cruiserweight champion Sina Karimian at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021. Kyotaro lost the fight by split decision, after an extra round was fought.
Kyotaro was scheduled to face the J-Network heavyweight champion Hidenori Sakamoto at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on February 27, 2022. Their fight was later postponed for K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022, and was rescheduled as the quarterfinal bout of the 2022 K-1 openweight tournament. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout and advanced to the tournament semifinals, where he faced Hisaki Kato. Sattari won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 29–29, 30–28 and 30–28.
Kyotaro faced the unbeaten Satoshi Ishii in a super heavyweight bout at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 30–27.

## Boxing career

Kyotaro debuted as a pro boxer on December 31, 2011, when he took a unanimous decision win over Michael O'Donnell in Osaka, Japan. In September 2012, he defeated Chauncy Welliver by unanimous decision, who at the time was ranked #15 in the world by the WBC.
Kyotaro took Welliver's place in the WBC top 15 as a result of this win. Kyotaro lost his next fight against Solomon Haumono via TKO in the 5th round. The fight was held at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka on December 31, 2012. Kyotaro won his first major regional title against Willie Nasio for the vacant WBC - OPBF heavyweight title in 2017.
Kyotaro retired from professional boxing on November 12, 2020, announcing plans to go into mixed martial arts.

## Kickboxing titles

* Amateur
** 18th All Japan Shin-Karate Championships(K-2 GRAND PRIX) Heavyweight(+75 kg) tournament winner (May 3, 2007)
* Professional
** 2009-2011 K-1 Heavyweight (-100 kg) Champion (1 def.)
** 2009 K-1 Heavyweight (-100 kg) Tournament Champion
** 2008 K-1 Japan GP in Fukuoka Runner-up
** 2007 K-1 Tryouts Young Japan GP champion

## Boxing titles

* Japanese heavyweight title (224+1⁄2Ibs)
* WBC - OPBF heavyweight title (227+1⁄4Ibs)
* WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title (228+1⁄2Ibs)

## Awards

* 18th All Japan Shin-Karate Championship Gaora Award

## Ring names

* Kyōtarō Ranger (狂太郎レンジャー / May 2006 - August 2007)
* Kyōtarō Ranger (強太郎レンジャー / August 2007 - January 2008)
* Maeda Keijirō (前田 慶次郎 / January 2008 - August 2009) a.k.a. Keijiro Maeda
* Kyōtarō (京太郎 / August 2009 – December 2010)
* Kyotaro Fujimoto (藤本 京太郎 / December 2011–Present)

## Kickboxing record

Professional kickboxing record :
| 21 Wins (11 (T) KO's, 8 decisions, 1 dq), 7 Losses |||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record |
| 2023-03-12 | Win | Satoshi Ishii | K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 21-7 |
| 2022-04-03 | Loss | Mahmoud Sattari | K-1: K'Festa 5, Tournament Semifinals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00 | 20–7 |
| 2022-04-03 | Win | Hidenori Sakamoto | K-1: K'Festa 5, Tournament Quarterfinals | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Referee stoppage) | 2 | 2:11 | 20–6 |
| 2021-09-20 | Loss | Sina Karimian | K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri | Yokohama, Japan | Ext. R. Decision (Split) | 4 | 3:00 | 19–6 |
| 2021-03-28 | Win | Kosuke Jitsutaka | K’Festa 4 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Overhand Right) | 2 | 0:29 | 19–5 |
| 2010-12-31 | Loss | Gegard Mousasi | Dynamite!! 2010 | Saitama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 18–5 |
| 2010-12-11 | Loss | Semmy Schilt | K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final, Semi Finals | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 18–4 |
| 2010-10-02 | Win | Jérôme Le Banner | K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16 | Seoul, South Korea | Forfeit | 4 | N/A | 18–3 |
| 2010-04-03 | Win | Peter Aerts | K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama | Yokohama, Japan | KO (Right hook) | 2 | 1:56 | 17–3 |
| Fight for K-1 Heavyweight (-100kg) title. |||||||||
| 2009-12-05 | Loss | Tyrone Spong | K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 16–3 |
| 2009-09-26 | Loss | Ruslan Karaev | K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final 16 | Seoul, Republic of Korea | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 16–2 |
| 2009-08-11 | Win | Jan Soukup | K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying GP | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Right hook) | 3 | 1:20 | 16–1 |
| 2009-03-28 | Win | Gökhan Saki | K-1 World GP 2009 in Yokohama | Yokohama, Japan | Ext R. Decision (Majority) | 4 | 3:00 | 15–1 |
| Wins K-1 Heavyweight (-100kg) title. |||||||||
| 2009-03-28 | Win | Melvin Manhoef | K-1 World GP 2009 in Yokohama | Yokohama, Japan | KO (Right hook) | 1 | 2:02 | 14–1 |
| 2008-09-27 | Win | Min Ho Song | K-1 World GP 2008 Final 16 | Seoul, Korea | KO (Punches) | 3 | 1:43 | 13–1 |
| 2008-06-29 | Loss | Ewerton Teixeira | K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka Final | Fukuoka, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 12–1 |
| Fight was for K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka title. |||||||||
| 2008-06-29 | Win | Takumi Sato | K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka | Fukuoka, Japan Semi-final | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 12–0 |
| 2008-06-29 | Win | Musashi | K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka Quarter-final | Fukuoka, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 11–0 |
| 2008-04-13 | Win | Mighty Mo | K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama | Yokohama, Japan | Ext R. Decision | 4 | 3:00 | 10–0 |
| 2007-12-22 | Win | Tsuyoshi Nakasako | AJKF "Enter the Dragon　The 1st" | Japan | KO | 2 | 2:07 | 9–0 |
| 2007-09-29 | Win | Kyoung Suk Kim | K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Seoul Final 16 | Seoul, Korea | KO | 2 | 2:14 | 8–0 |
| 2007-08-16 | Win | Takumi Sato | K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival K-1 Young Japan GP Final | Tokyo, Japan | Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | 7–0 |
| Wins K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival title. |||||||||
| 2007-08-16 | Win | Tatsunori Momose | K-1 Tryout 2007 Survival K-1 Young Japan GP Semi-final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 6–0 |
| 2007-06-03 | Win | Ryo Takigawa | J-Network "Team Dragon Quest 1" | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 5–0 |
| 2007-01-12 | Win | Tank Sugimura | MAJKF "Shidokan Spring New Year Event Breakdown-1" | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | KO (Punches) | 2 | 1:42 | 4–0 |
| 2006-11-05 | Win | Turbo Weerasakreck | M-1 "M-1 Fairtex Shingha Beer Muay Thai Challenge -Thai King's Enthronement 60th Anniversary Cup 2006-" | Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Right low kick) | 4 | 2:13 | 3–0 |
| 2006-09-01 | Win | Toshi Saenchai Gym | J-Network "Mach! Go! Go! '06 -Flyweight Strongest Decision Tournament 1st Match- | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 2–0 |
| 2006-05-17 | Win | Junichi Hanada | J-Network "Go! Go! J-Net '06 -Invading the Dragon- | Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan | KO | 2 | 1:16 | 1–0 |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |||||||||
Amateur kickboxing record :
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
| 2007-05-03 | Win | Jun'ichi Kikuchi | 18th K-2 GRAND　PRIX Heavyweight tournament Final | Adachi, Tokyo, Japan | Ippon (Awasete) | 1 | N/A |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |||||||||

## Professional boxing record

| 23 fights | 21 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 2 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 23 | Loss | 21–2 | Daniel Dubois | KO | 2 (12), 2:10 | 21 Dec 2019 | Copper Box Arena, London, England | For WBO International and vacant WBC Silver heavyweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Suthat Kalalek | TKO | 6 (8), 2:08 | 21 Oct 2019 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Suthat Kalalek | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | 25 Sep 2018 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Aaron Russell | TKO | 7 (12), 0:28 | 7 May 2018 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Randall Rayment | KO | 5 (12), 2:50 | 4 Nov 2017 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Herman Ene Purcell | TKO | 9 (12), 1:22 | 9 May 2017 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF Heavyweight title Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Willie Nasio | UD | 12 | 14 Jan 2017 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Won vacant OPBF heavyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Adam Lovelock | TKO | 2 (8), 2:13 | 2 Aug 2016 | Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Nathan McKay | UD | 8 | 2 Aug 2016 | Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | David Torres Garcia | KO | 3 (8), 1:05 | 21 Oct 2015 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Nobuhiro Ishida | SD | 10 | 30 Apr 2015 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese heavyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | David Radeff | UD | 8 | 18 Dec 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Kotatsu Takehara | TKO | 5 (10), 0:44 | 10 Sep 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese heavyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Nobuhiro Ishida | UD | 8 | 30 Apr 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | Kotatsu Takehara | UD | 8 | 25 Nov 2013 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese heavyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Okello Peter | TKO | 6 (10), 2:59 | 23 Jul 2013 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Won vacant Japanese heavyweight title |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Fabrice Aurieng | TKO | 7 (8), 1:11 | 17 Apr 2013 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 6 | Loss | 5–1 | Solomon Haumono | TKO | 5 (12), 0:57 | 31 Dec 2012 | Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan | For vacant OPBF heavyweight title |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Chauncy Welliver | UD | 10 | 19 Sep 2012 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Clarence Tillman | KO | 3 (8), 0:47 | 20 Jun 2012 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Afa Tatupu | TKO | 2 (6), 0:47 | 17 May 2012 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jae-Chan Kim | TKO | 2 (6), 1:03 | 6 Mar 2012 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Tokyo | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Michael O'Donnell | UD | 6 | 31 Dec 2011 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |