Hiromi Wajima (born 23 February 1995) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super welterweight division of K-1, where he is the former K-1 Super Welterweight champion. He is the finalist of the 2020 K-1 Super Welterweight Grand Prix.

Hiromi Wajima
Born和島 大海
(1995-02-23) 23 February 1995 (age 29)
Shijōnawate, Osaka, Japan
Other namesThe Purple Comet
Proud Lone Samurai
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb)
StyleNippon Kempo, Karate, Kickboxing
Fighting out ofHirano, Osaka, Japan
TeamGesshinkai Team Samurai
Rank1st Dan Black Belt in Karate[2]
2nd Dan Black Belt in Kendo[2]
3rd Dan Black Belt in Nippon Kempo[2]
Years active2015-present
Kickboxing record
Total26
Wins20
By knockout17
Losses6
By knockout3
Other information
UniversityFaculty of Science and Engineering at Doshisha University[2]

He was ranked as the tenth-best lightweight (-71 kg) kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick in December 2023.[3][4]

Kickboxing career edit

K-1 edit

Early career edit

Hiromi began a six fight winning streak with a first-round TKO win over Kazunari Kimura.[5][6] During this run he likewise scored knockouts over Yoichi Yamazaki,[7] Shimada Masayuki and Tanaka Yuki.[8] Wajima won the rematch with Jinbo Katsuya during KHAOS 5, with a second-round KO.[9]

Hiromi Wajima had his second professional career loss with a unanimous decision loss to Jordann Pikeur.[10][11] He suffered his first knockout loss at the hands of Minoru Kimura, losing after only two minutes.[12]

He snapped his losing streak at Krush 108, where Wajima won a unanimous decision against Daisuke Fujimura.[13]

Wajima participated in the 2020 Super Welterweight Grand Prix. In the quarter final bout he faced Avatar Tor Morsri whom he defeated early in the third round with a leg kick knockout. In the semifinals he won a unanimous decision against Yasuhiro Kido. In the grand prix finals he fought a rematch with Minoru Kimura. He would fail to capture the super welterweight title, losing to Kimura for the second time in his career.[14][15][16]

Wajima fought Raseasing Weerasakreck during K-1 World GP 2020 in Osaka. He won the fight by a second-round KO.[17] He was scheduled to fight Yuhei Fujioka during K-1 World GP 2020 in Tokyo,[18] and won by a second round head kick.[19]

Wajima was scheduled to fight Abiral Ghimire at K-1 World GP 2021 in Fukuoka on July 17, 2021.[20] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[21]

K-1 super welterweight champion edit

Wajima challenged Minoru Kimura for the K-1 Super Welterweight title at K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka on December 4, 2021. They previously fought on March 22, 2020, with Kimura winning by a first-round technical knockout.[22] Wajima was more successful in the rematch, winning the fight by a third-round knockout. He began to take over the fight from the beginning of the second round onward, with most of his success coming from body strikes, and finally stopped Kimura with a body kick which left him unable to beat the eight count.[23]

Wajima was booked to face the former RISE welterweight champion BeyNoah at The Match 2022 on June 19, 2022.[24] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30–24 in his favor, as he managed to knock BeyNoah down in every round of the fight.[25]

Wajima faced the former FFC Lightweight (70.3 kg) champion Meletis Kakoubavas in a non-title bout at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022.[26] He won the fight by a first-round knockout. The fight was stopped early in the opening round, as Wajima landed an inadvertent low blow on Kakoubavas.[27]

Wajima made his first K-1 Super Welterweight title defense against the four-weight Rajadamnern Stadium champion Jomthong Chuwattana at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12, 2023.[28] The fight was ruled a majority decision draw after the first two rounds, with two judges having scored the bout an even 29–29, while the third judge awarded Wajima a 29–28 scorecard. Wajima won the fight by technical knockout 25 seconds into the extra fourth round.[29]

Wajima made his second K-1 Super Welterweight title defense against the Krush Super Welterweight champion Jordann Pikeur at K-1 World GP 2023 on July 17, 2023.[30] He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[31]

Wajima made his third K-1 Super Welterweight title defense against the Wu Lin Feng -70 kg champion Ouyang Feng at K-1 ReBIRTH 2 on October 10, 2023.[32] He lost the fight by a second-round knockout.[33]

Wajima faced Darryl Verdonk at K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Tournament Opening Round on March 20, 2024. He lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[34]

Championships and accomplishments edit

Professional

Amateur

  • K-1
    • 2015 K-1 Amateur All Japan A-class Tournament -70 kg Winner [35]

Awards

  • K-1 Awards
    • 2021 K-1 Awards "Skill Award"[36]
    • 2022 K-1 Awards "Skill Award"[37]
  • eFight
    • March 2023 "Fighter of the Month"[38]

Kickboxing record edit

Professional Kickboxing Record
20 Wins (17 (T)KO's), 6 Losses, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-03-20 Loss   Darryl Verdonk K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Tournament Opening Round Tokyo, Japan TKO (Punches) 1 3:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 World MAX 2024 World Championship Final.
2023-12-09 Loss   Ouyang Feng K-1 ReBIRTH 2 Osaka, Japan KO (Right cross) 2 2:13
Loses the K-1 Super Welterweight title.
2023-07-17 Win   Jordann Pikeur K-1 World GP 2023 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Referee stop./punches) 2 2:17
Defends the K-1 Super Welterweight title.
2023-03-12 Win   Jomthong Chuwattana K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Corner stop./Low kicks) 4 0:25
Defends the K-1 Super Welterweight title.
2022-09-11 Win   Meletis Kakoubavas K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri Yokohama, Japan KO (Left straight) 1 1:34
2022-06-19 Win   BeyNoah THE MATCH 2022 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-12-04 Win   Minoru Kimura K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka Osaka, Japan KO (Body kick) 3 2:50
Wins the K-1 Super Welterweight title.
2021-07-17 Win   Abiral Himalayan Cheetah K-1 World GP 2021 in Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan KO (Low kicks) 3 2:23
2020-12-13 Win   Yuhei Fujioka K-1 World GP 2020 Winter's Crucial Bout Tokyo, Japan KO (High kick) 1 2:03
2020-09-22 Win   Raseasing Weerasakreck K-1 World GP 2020 in Osaka Osaka, Japan KO (Uppercut) 2 0:59
2020-03-22 Loss   Minoru Kimura K-1: K'Festa 3, -70 kg Championship Tournament Final Saitama, Japan TKO (Corner stoppage) 1 1:02
For the 2020 K-1 World GP -70kg Tournament title and the vacant K-1 Super Welterweight title.
2020-03-22 Win   Yasuhiro Kido K-1: K'Festa 3, -70 kg Championship Tournament Semi Finals Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-03-22 Win   Avatar Tor.Morsri K-1: K'Festa 3, -70 kg Championship Tournament Quarter Finals Saitama, Japan KO (Low kick) 3 0:40
2019-11-16 Win   Daisuke Fujimura Krush 108 Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-03-10 Loss   Minoru Kimura K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 Saitama, Japan KO (Left hook) 1 2:20
2018-09-30 Loss   Jordann Pikeur Krush.93 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
For the Krush Super Welterweight title.
2018-05-26 Win   Katsuya Jinbo KHAOS 5 Tokyo, Japan KO (Left hook) 2 2:32
2018-03-03 Win   Wang Chao Wu Lin Feng 2018: World Championship Tianjin Tianjin, China KO (Left cross) 2
2017-12-27 Win   Yoichi Yamazaki K-1 WORLD GP 2017 JAPAN ~SURVIVAL WARS 2017~ Tokyo, Japan KO (Jumping knee) 3 2:06
2017-10-14 Win   Masayuki Shimada KHAOS 4 Tokyo, Japan KO (Low kick) 2 2:32
2017-08-20 Win   Tanaka Strike Yuki Krush 79 Nagoya, Japan KO (Low kick) 1 2:26
2017-04-22 Win   Kazunari Kimura K-1 World GP 2017 Super Bantamweight Championship Tournament Tokyo, Japan TKO (Doctor stoppage) 1 1:13
2017-01-15 Loss   Hiroki Nakajima Krush 72 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2016-10-09 Win   Ryu Oda HIGHSPEED 2016 ~higher self~ Osaka, Japan KO (Left cross) 1 2:34
2016-07-18 Win   Katsuya Jinbo Krush 67 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Punches) 2 2:37
2016-05-22 Win   Fumiya Uezono HIGHSPEED EX Osaka, Japan KO (Left cross) 1 0:24
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2015-08-15 Win   Masashi Nakajima K-1 Amateur A-class Challenge -70 kg Tournament, Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00
Wins K-1 Amateur All Japan A-class -70kg title.
2015-08-15 Win   Ryunosuke Takahashi K-1 All Japan Amateur A-class Challenge -70 kg Tournament, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2015-06-21 Win   Ikki Konishi K-1 All Japan Amateur A-class Challenge -70 kg Tournament, Final Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2015-06-21 Win   Kentaro Ishibashi K-1 Amateur A-class Challenge -70 kg Tournament, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2015-06-21 Win   Masashi Nakajima K-1 Amateur A-class Challenge -70 kg Tournament, Quarter Final Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2012-06-17 Win   Yoshinobu Matsushita KAKUMEI Osaka, Japan KO 2
2012-04-22 Win   Masahiro Iwata KAKUMEI Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2011-09-25 Win   Satoshi Yamashita KAKUMEI Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
2011-07-24 Win   Kunio Oohashi KAKUMEI Osaka, Japan KO 1
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Hiromi Wajima". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "和島 大海(WAJIMA HIROMI)". firstclasstrainers.net. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Kickboxing Rankings December 2023". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Kickboxing Rankings January 2024". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. ^ "[ニュース]2017.3.6 「K-1 WORLD GP」4.22代々木 <プレリミナリーファイト>3カードが決定!!". k-1xkrush.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. ^ "タイトルマッチ・スーパーファイト・プレリミナリーファイト編". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ^ "K-1 World GP: Survival Wars 2017 – Fightcard". perfectkickboxing.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. ^ "「Krush.79~in NAGOYA~」8.20(日)名古屋 出場選手コメントを公開!!【Krush -70kg Fight / 和島大海 vs 田中STRIKE雄基】". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ "KHAOS.5 Results: Wajima Faceplants Jinbo, Tsubakihara Defeats Morisaka". combatpress.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. ^ "k-1-krush-jordan-pikeur-verslaat-hiromi-wajima-en-behoudt-wereldtitel". vechtsportinfo.nl. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. ^ "K-1 Krush: 'Jordan Pikeur verslaat Hiromi Wajima en behoudt wereldtitel'". drimble.nl. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  12. ^ "K'Festa.2". muaythaitv.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Hiromi Wajima vs. Daisuke Fujimura". tapology.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  14. ^ "The Eight Limbs Podcast, Episode 5: Takeru vs Petchdam & K'Festa 3, Ft. Lucas Bourdon". thefight-site.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  15. ^ "A 26-year-old kickboxer at the 'Superbowl of Japanese fighting' hit his opponent so hard he was knocked out on his feet before falling awkwardly in a heap". insider.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  16. ^ "K'Festa 3 Results and Report". kickboxingz.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  17. ^ "K-1 World GP 2020 Japan Results: Yamazaki Blasts Anpo, Claims Title". combatpress.com. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  18. ^ "【K-1】和島大海が九州から初参戦の藤岡裕平と対戦「先に派手なKOをして木村選手にプレッシャーをかけたい」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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  20. ^ "【K-1】7・17福岡大会の第2弾対戦カードを2日に発表、K-Jeeら王者・トップクラス出撃か。9・20横浜大会も決定". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  21. ^ "【K-1】和島大海がアビラルをローキックで逆転KO、木村"フィリップ"ミノルに挑戦宣言". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  22. ^ "木村"フィリップ"ミノル「Kー1ラストマッチ」電撃発表!ネット衝撃、次のステージの予想の声も多数". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  23. ^ "「K-1 WORLD GP」12.4大阪 和島大海がK-1 FINALの木村"フィリップ"ミノルを下してK-1スーパー・ウェルター級王座獲得!". prtimes.jp. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  24. ^ "【THE MATCH】ベイノア、那須川天心のためにも「自分だけ負けたらシャレにならない」K-1王者・和島大海「派手なKOで勝つ」". efight.jp. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  25. ^ "和島大海がベイノアから3つのダウンを奪って判定勝ち。「僕が引っ張っていきます」と70kgの主役獲りを宣言【THE MATCH 2022】". tokyoheadline.com. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  26. ^ "和島大海「強すぎませんか?って思う選手」 9・11K―1横浜大会で強豪メレティスと対戦". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  27. ^ "【K-1】和島大海、4冠王メレティスに"94秒殺"で世界レベルの実力証明「何回やっても僕が勝つ」". news.goo.ne.jp. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  28. ^ "【K-1】和島大海が「過去一強い」ジョムトーンを迎えての初防衛戦「ファンの皆さんにも温かく見守っていてほしい」". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  29. ^ "【K-1】和島大海が最強の挑戦者ジョムトーンを延長戦でTKO". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  30. ^ "【K1】Sウエルター級王者和島大海が強豪ジョーダン・ピケオーと7・17両国大会でV2戦". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  31. ^ "【K-1】和島大海がピケオーを完全KO、海人との対戦をアピール". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  32. ^ "王者・和島大海がカルロス菊田Pに「旅行がてらいい感じの」ヨーロッパ遠征を要望【K-1】 | TOKYO HEADLINE". tokyoheadline.com (in Japanese). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  33. ^ "【K-1】和島大海がまさかのKO負け、オウヤン・フェンが王座奪取!(ゴング格闘技)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  34. ^ "【K-1】和島大海が初回KO負け、オランダのフェルドンクにトーナメント1回戦敗退(ゴング格闘技)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  35. ^ "「第1回K-1チャレンジ全日本大会 ~アマチュア日本一決定オープントーナメント~」各カテゴリー・入賞者一覧". www.k-1.co.jp.
  36. ^ "関根勤「キックの強い選手が好きなので」K1技能賞受賞の和島大海に期待". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  37. ^ "『K-1 AWARDS 2022』表彰式で「軍司 泰斗」選手がMVPに!美川憲一さん、デヴィ夫人、山之内すずさん、ゆうちゃみさん他、豪華プレゼンター陣も受賞をお祝い". prtimes.jp. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  38. ^ "【3月・ベストファイター】強豪ジョムトーンをKOし初防衛に成功した和島大海インタビュー". efight.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2023.