Emiko Raika

Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975, in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer and mixed martial artist.

Emiko Raika
Born	(1975-01-24) January 24, 1975 Kyoto, Japan
Other names	Raika
Nationality	Japanese
Height	5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight	115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division	Lightweight (boxing) Flyweight (MMA)
Reach	68.0 in (173 cm)
Style	Boxing
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	2000–2013 (Boxing) 2014–present (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total	34
Wins	25
By knockout	10
Losses	8
By knockout	0
Draws	1
Mixed martial arts record
Total	26
Wins	13
By knockout	2
By submission	2
By decision	9
Losses	11
By knockout	1
By submission	3
By decision	7
Draws	1
No contests	1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Although more Japanese women have taken up traditionally male sports such as karate, kickboxing and wrestling in recent years, many in Japan still believe that women should not box, because of the injury risk. Raika, who has suffered a broken nose and an eye socket fracture in fights, shrugs off the possibility of injuries. "When I told friends that I want to become a boxer, they were surprised and put down my decision because I am a woman," said Raika. "But I had to resist. I like boxing and I wanted to do it. In fact, I am expressing myself through boxing. I am fighting not to beat the opponent, but for myself."

Biography

Early life

Raika lived with her grandmother until she was three. After her grandmother died, she spent the next 15 years in the Karyo-en children's home in Kyoto. Raika was a good student, among the top of her high school graduating class. She studied at Ogaki Women's College and became a licensed dental hygienist, later working at a dental clinic. She quit the job after a month, because she did not like the uniform. She tried other jobs, but they did not make her happy.

"I felt as if I were not living and felt myself destroying." said Raika, "I was very weak mentally. I could choose to have an ordinary life, but I wanted more than just that - to become strong."

Boxing career

Always enjoying rough sports such as wrestling and rugby, Raika joined a local boxing gym that she found while commuting to work at a battery manufacture, and trained to compete as an amateur boxer.

Raika had three wins in three amateur fights, and was named the most outstanding woman in a local amateur tournament, where she was spotted by Toshihiro Yamaki, a Tokyo gym owner.

With a growing number of Japanese women becoming interested in boxing, a group of gym owners had organized a women's boxing association in 1999, with Yamaki as its secretary general, called the Japanese Women's Boxing Commission (JWBC).

Yamaki was impressed by Raika, and asked her to join his gym and turn professional. She now devotes full-time to boxing.

Raika won the WIBA Featherweight World title from Australian Sharon Anyos in 2001, and successfully defended the title in a 2002 rematch. After destroying an overmatched Shelby Walker in two rounds for her second title defence on May 23, 2004, Raika made her 3rd title defence against the rugged (and undefeated) brawler Melissa Fiorentino on September 18, 2004, in Kyoto, Japan. It was called the WIBA 2004 Fight of the Year, Raika again successfully defended her crown via 10-round decision in a brutal toe-to-toe slugfest.

Raika then vacated her world title at featherweight (126 pounds) to move up in weight to the super featherweight division (130 pounds).

On March 13, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika lost a 10-round decision to Chevelle Hallback for the vacant WIBA Super Featherweight World Title.

On October 1, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won an 8-round decision over Belinda Laracuente.

On May 20, 2006, in Cholla Province, Korea, Raika moved up another 2 weight classes, to 140 pounds, where she won a 10-round unanimous decision over Won Mi Chung, for the IFBA Light Welterweight World Title.

On June 10, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika knocked out Yoko Takahashi in the 4th round with a body shot.

On December 15, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won a 10-round unanimous decision over Terri Blair to win the vacant WIBA Lightweight World Title.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

26 matches	13 wins	11 losses
By knockout	2	1
By submission	2	3
By decision	9	7
Draws	1
No contests	1

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	13–11–1 (1)	Shizuka Sugiyama	Decision (unanimous)	Pancrase 341	March 31, 2024	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	13–10–1 (1)	Honoka Shigeta	Decision (unanimous)	Pancrase 338	November 12, 2023	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	13–9–1 (1)	Kei Nagisa	TKO (punches)	Pancrase 336	July 9, 2023	1	0:25	Tokyo, Japan
Win	12–9–1 (1)	Fumika Watanabe	Decision (split)	Pancrase 331	March 26, 2023	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	11–9–1 (1)	So Yul Kim	Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)	Shooto 2022 Vol.7	November 27, 2022	3	2:18	Tokyo, Japan
Draw	11–8–1 (1)	Megumi Sugimoto	Draw (majority)	Shooto 2022 Vol.6	September 19, 2022	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	11–8 (1)	Nori	Decision (unanimous)	Pancrase 321	May 30, 2021	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	11–7 (1)	Takayo Hashi	Decision (unanimous)	Pancrase 316	July 24, 2020	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	11–6 (1)	Anne Karoline Nascimento	Decision (split)	Pancrase 309	October 20, 2019	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	10–6 (1)	Gleicielen Faria	Submission (rear naked choke)	Pancrase 307	July 21, 2019	1	0:45	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	9–6 (1)	Mayra Cantuária	Submission (armbar)	Pancrase 304	April 14, 2019	1	3:17	Tokyo, Japan
Win	9–5 (1)	Edna Oliveira	Decision (split)	Pancrase 302	December 9, 2018	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	8–5 (1)	Kseniya Guseva	Decision (split)	Pancrase 297	July 1, 2018	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	8–4 (1)	Seul Gi Jeon	Decision (unanimous)	GRANDSLAM 7: Way of the Cage	March 25, 2018	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	7–4 (1)	Ji Yeon Seo	Submission (rear naked choke)	TTF Challenge 07	October 9, 2017	2	2:37	Tokyo, Japan
Win	6–4 (1)	Hae In Kim	Decision (split)	Road FC 040	July 15, 2017	2	5:00	Seoul, South Korea
Win	5–4 (1)	Jin Hee Kang	Decision (unanimous)	Road FC 037 XX	March 11, 2017	3	5:00	Seoul, South Korea
Win	4–4 (1)	Satsuki Kodama	Decision (unanimous)	Deep Jewels 15	February 25, 2017	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	3–4 (1)	Jin Hee Kang	Decision (unanimous)	Deep Jewels 14	November 2, 2016	2	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	2–4 (1)	Rin Nakai	TKO (elbows)	Pancrase 279	July 24, 2016	3	2:43	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	2–3 (1)	Brogan Walker	Decision (unanimous)	PXC 50	December 4, 2015	3	5:00	Mangilao, Guam
NC	2–2 (1)	Jessica-Rose Clark	No Contest	TTF Challenge 05	September 23, 2015	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan	Result overturned due to Clark missing weight.
Win	2–2	Slavka Vitaly	Decision (split)	Pancrase - 268	July 5, 2015	3	3:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	1–2	Sayako Fujita	KO (punch)	Real FC 2 - Zone & Real 2	October 16, 2015	2	2:06	Yokohama,Japan
Loss	0–2	Shizuka Sugiyama	Technical Submission (armbar)	Deep - Dream Impact 2014: Omisoka Special	December 31, 2014	1	4:06	Saitama, Japan
Loss	0–1	Su Jeong Lim	Decision (unanimous)	Revolution 2 - Start of the Revolution	September 12, 2014	2	5:00	Seoul, South Korea

Professional boxing record

43 fights	35 wins	8 losses
By knockout	10	0
By decision	25	8

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
34	Loss	25–8–1	Choi Hyunmi	UD	10	2:00	Aug 15, 2013	Wolmido, Icheon	For WBA interim female super featherweight title
33	Win	25–7–1	Cristina Sanchez	UD	8	2:00	Mar 12, 2013	Korakuen Hall
32	Win	24–7–1	Bas Sor Tammajak	KO	2	1:10	Oct 28, 2012	Furukawa Sogo Gym, Osaki, Miyagi
31	Win	23–7–1	Cynthia Munoz	UD	6	2:00	Jul 11, 2012	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
30	Loss	22–7–1	Jelena Mrdjenovich	UD	10	2:00	Sep 22, 2011	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
29	Win	22–6–1	Chika Mizutani	KO	4	1:54	Apr 4, 2011	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
28	Win	21–6–1	Bronwyn Wylie	UD	10	2:00	Sep 24, 2010	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo	Won vacant OPBF female lightweight title
27	Win	20–6–1	Lamduan Superchamps	KO	3	2:09	Apr 1, 2010	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
26	Win	19–6–1	Pantip Muangubon	KO	4	1:48	Dec 6, 2009	ATC Hall, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
25	Loss	18–6–1	Layla McCarter	UD	10	2:00	Jul 3, 2009	South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada	For WBA and GBU female lightweight titles
24	Loss	18–5–1	Olivia Gerula	SD	8	2:00	Mar 3, 2009	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
23	Loss	18–4–1	Ann Saccurato	UD	10	2:00	Aug 11, 2008	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo	For vacant WBC female lightweight title
22	Win	18–3–1	Natalie Brown	MD	6	2:00	May 9, 2008	Korakuen Hall, Tokyo,
21	Win	17–3–1	Ann Saccurato	MD	10	2:00	Nov 10, 2007	Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo	Retained WIBA lightweight title
20	Loss	16–3–1	Jelena Mrdjenovich	UD	10	2:00	Apr 7, 2007	Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta	For WBC female super featherweight title
19	Win	16–2–1	Terri Blair	UD	10	2:00	Dec 15, 2006	Tokyo	Won vacant WIBA lightweight title
18	Win	15–2–1	Yoko Takahashi	KO	4	1:30	Jun 10, 2006	Shinjuku FACE
17	Win	14–2–1	Won-Mi Jung	UD	10	2:00	May 20, 2006	Jeongeup, South Korea	Won vacant IFBA super lightweight title
16	Win	13–2–1	Belinda Laracuente	PTS	8	2:00	Oct 1, 2005	Roppongi Velfarre, Tokyo
15	Loss	12–2–1	Chevelle Hallback	UD	10	2:00	Mar 13, 2005	Velfarre, Roppongi, Tokyo	Lost WIBA featherweight title
14	Win	12–1–1	Melissa Fiorentino	UD	10	2:00	Sep 18, 2004	Kyoto	Retained WIBA featherweight title
13	Win	11–1–1	Shelby Walker	TKO	2	1:59	May 23, 2004	Kyoto	Retained WIBA featherweight title
12	Win	10–1–1	Sharon Anyos	UD	10	2:00	Nov 30, 2003	Tokyo	Retained WIBA featherweight title
11	Win	9–1–1	Jeri Sitzes	MD	8	2:00	Jun 25, 2003	Tokyo
10	Win	8–1–1	Sharon Anyos	SD	10	2:00	Dec 18, 2002	Tokyo	Won WIBA featherweight title
9	Win	7–1–1	Lauren Bennett	TKO	2	0:27	Sep 7, 2002	Tokyo
8	Win	6–1–1	Mika Harikae	TKO	3		Jun 9, 2002	Tokyo
7	Loss	5–1–1	Layla McCarter	MD	8	2:00	Apr 29, 2002	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
6	Win	5–0–1	Miki Kikukawa	UD	10	2:00	Feb 3, 2002	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
5	Win	4–0–1	Mika Harikae	TKO	3	1:15	Jul 20, 2001	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
4	Win	3–0–1	Miki Kikukawa	SD	6	2:00	Mar 2, 2001	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
3	Win	2–0–1	Ann Jihe	MD	6	2:00	Dec 12, 2000	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
2	Draw	1–0–1	Kaori Koizumi	MD	6	2:00	Sep 21, 2000	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
1	Win	1–0	Keiko Onuma	TKO	3	1:17	May 8, 2000	Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo

External links

• Raika's homepage
• Emiko's WBAN Bio
• Boxing record for Emiko Raika from BoxRec (registration required)