Wikipedia

Hiroki Akimoto

Hiroki Akimoto (秋元 皓貴, Akimoto Hiroki, born August 31, 1992) is a Japanese martial artist and kickboxer. He competes in ONE Championship's bantamweight and flyweight division, where he is the former ONE Kickboxing Bantamweight World Champion.[3][4]

Hiroki Akimoto
Born秋元皓貴
(1992-08-31) August 31, 1992 (age 31)
Toyota, Aichi, Japan
NationalityJapanese[1]
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight145 lb (65.8 kg; 10.4 st)
DivisionBantamweight (145 lb)
Flyweight (135 lb)
Reach67.3 in (171 cm)
StyleFull Contact Karate
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofSingapore
TeamEvolve MMA
Shoryukai Gym MMA
Shichishu-Kai
RankBlack belt in Kyokushin karate[2]
Kickboxing record
Total28
Wins26
By knockout10
Losses2
By knockout0

As of June 2022, he is ranked as the second-best featherweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press. He's been ranked in the top ten since December 2021.[5][6] As of November 24, 2022, he is ranked #1 in the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing rankings.[7]

Background edit

Japanese-born Akimoto began his martial arts journey at the age of eight. He took up full contact karate[8] and became a top talent over his years of training. Both of his parents were instructors in the Shichishu-Kai, but he was never forced to participate. It was not until he was involved in a fight at school did he decide to take up martial arts.[9]

As his skills grew, he turned to competition. He did not stick with karate, and also competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts. To get the most of his talents, Akimoto moved from Japan to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA and pursue a world title in ONE Championship.[10]

Kickboxing career edit

Akimoto got off to an incredible start to his professional career. He racked up 19 straight kickboxing victories that would lead him to be signed by ONE Championship.

ONE Championship edit

Early promotional career edit

Akimoto made his organizational debut with ONE Championship on January 25, 2019 at ONE Championship: Hero's Ascent. It was his first kickboxing bout in nearly six years.[11] Akimoto won the fight by unanimous decision.[12]

The now 20–0 striker returned to competition on March 31, 2019 at ONE Championship: A New Era against Joseph Lasiri.[13] Akimoto lost the bout by majority decision, suffering the first loss of his professional career.[14]

Akimoto faced Kenny Tse at ONE Championship: Masters Of Destiny on July 12, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, successfully rebounding from his loss to Lasiri.[15]

Move to Bantamweight edit

Akimoto faced Zhang Chenglong at ONE Championship: Reign of Dynasties 2 on October 17, 2020.[16] He won the fight by split decision.[17] Due to the close decision, the pair were immediately booked for a rematch at ONE Championship: Fists Of Fury on February 26, 2021.[18] Akimoto was more convincing in the rematch, as he beat Zhang by unanimous decision.[19]

Akimoto faced former Wu Lin Feng kickboxing champion Qiu Jianliang at ONE: Winter Warriors on December 3, 2021.[20] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[21]

Bantamweight kickboxing champion edit

Akimoto (then the #2 ONE Kickboxing Bantamweight contender) challenged the reigning ONE Bantamweight kickboxing champion Capitan Petchyindee Academy at ONE: X on March 25, 2022.[22] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after controlling the final four rounds of the bout. Capitan was twice warned for illegal clinching and was deducted a point for it in the fourth round.[23][24] Akimoto was given the $50,000 Performance of the Night award as well,[25] and was named the March 2022 "Fighter of the Month" by eFight.[26]

Akimoto made his first ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World title defense against #4 ranked contender Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE 163 on November 18, 2022.[27] He lost the fight by split decision (and also his second loss on his kickboxing career).[28]

After a 1-year and 5-month hiatus, Akimoto is scheduled to face Wei Rui on May 4, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 22.[29]

Titles and accomplishments edit

Kickboxing edit

Amateur

  • Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Federation
    • 2008 MAJKF All Japan Tournament Bantamweight Winner & event MVP[30]
  • K-1
    • 2010 K-1 Koshien Tournament Runner-up

Professional

Awards

Karate edit

  • Japan Karate Judge Organization
    • 2005 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -40kg runner-up[35]
    • 2006 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -50kg runner-up[36]
    • 2007 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -40kg runner-up[37]
    • 2007 JKJO All Japan Junior Championship Middle School -55kg runner-up[38]
  • Japanese Fullcontact Karate Organization
    • 2015 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight Runner-up[39]
    • 2016 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight 3rd Place[40]
    • 2017 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight Champion[41]
  • Kyokushin World Federation
    • 2016 KWF Russian Open Lightweight 1st Place
    • 2017 KWF Karate Grand Prix Lightweight Champion[42]
    • 2017 KWF Karate European Championship 70 kg 3rd Place[43]
    • 2018 KWF Karate Grand Prix Lightweight Runner-up[44]

Professional Kyokushin

  • World Fighting Kyokushin Organization
    • 2018 WFKO World Pro Kyokushin -65kg Champion[45]

Fight record edit

Kickboxing record
26 Wins (10 (T)KO's), 2 Loss, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-05-03   Wei Rui ONE Fight Night 22 Bangkok, Thailand
2022-11-19 Loss   Petchtanong Petchfergus ONE 163 Kallang, Singapore Decision (Split) 5 3:00
Lost the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.
2022-03-26 Win   Capitan Petchyindee Academy ONE: X Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Wins the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship.
2021-12-03 Win   Qiu Jianliang ONE: Winter Warriors Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-02-26 Win   Zhang Chenglong ONE Championship: Fists Of Fury Kallang, Singapore Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-10-17 Win   Zhang Chenglong ONE Championship: Reign of Dynasties 2 Kallang, Singapore Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2019-07-12 Win   Kenny Tse ONE Championship: Masters Of Destiny Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-03-31 Loss   Joseph Lasiri ONE Championship: A New Era Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-01-25 Win   Josh Tonna ONE Championship: Hero's Ascent Pasay, Philippines Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2013-04-14 Win   Surachai Sisuriyanyothin MAJKF DRAGON ROAD ONE AND ONLY TAKE 1 Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2012-12-02 Win   Shunta BigBang 11 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2012-10-07 Win   Yosuke Morii MAJKF BREAK-30 ～UNIFICATION～ Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Wins WBC Muay Thai Japan Featherweight title.
2012-07-15 Win   Daiki Fujisawa MAJKF KICK GUTS 2012 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Doctor Stoppage/Left Elbow) 1 1:28
Wins MA Japan Kick Featherweight title.
2012-05-06 Win   Kenryu MAJKF BREAK-25 ～CANNONBALL～ Tokyo, Japan KO (Right Front Kick) 1 2:52
2012-02-25 Win   Fumiya Sasaki BigBang 8 Tokyo, Japan KO (Left High Kick) 1 2:40
2011-08-21 Win   Atsushi Masukura BigBang 6 Tokyo, Japan KO (High Knee) 3 0:18
2011-07-24 Win   Pinsiam Sor.Amnuaysirichoke MAJKF J-1 time ～signal of start～ Aichi Prefecture, Japan KO (Left hook to the body) 2 0:54
2011-05-15 Win   Shota BigBang 5 Tokyo, Japan KO (Left Knee) 1 1:46
2011-02-05 Win   TURBO BigBang 4 Tokyo, Japan KO (Flying Knee) 2 1:05
2010-09-23 Win   Seidou Yamaguchi BigBang 3 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-05-04 Win   Kyoji Bancho MAJKF Explosion-1 Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-04-04 Win   Toshiya Sudou MAJKF Boukohyouga Sono Ichi Chiba, Japan TKO (Corner Stoppage) 2 1:17
2010-03-14 Win   Tadashi Matsumoto NAGOYA KICK ～CENTRAL RHYTHM～ Chiba, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-01-31 Win   Shoya Suzuki NAGOYA KICK ～KICK Hopping！～ Nagoya, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2009-03-08 Win   Masayuki Ishibashi NAGOYA KICK 〜Boogie Fight 07 Black Sunday〜 Nagoya, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2008-12-23 Win   Norifumi Yamamura NAGOYA KICK ～2008 FINAL Nagoya vs Muay Thai Drum Roll Please!!～ Nagoya, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-10-19 Win   Shin Takashiro MAJKF BREAK THROUGH-7 ～CHAMPION CARNIVAL～ Tokyo, Japan KO (Knee) 3 0:43
2008-08-29 Win   Mutsuki Ebata K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-08 Win   Yokdam Thailand KO 1
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2010-11-20 Loss   Shoei Hareyama K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- FINAL, Final Tokyo, Japan KO (Low Kick) 3 0:23
For the 2010 K-1 Koshien Title.
2010-11-20 Win   Keigo Ishida K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- FINAL, Semi Final Tokyo, Japan KO (Left middle kick) 4
2010-11-20 Win   Sho Ogawa K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- FINAL, Quarter Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4
2010-11-20 Win   Koji Kashimura K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- FINAL, Second Round Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2010-11-20 Win   Yuki Kurihara K-1 Koshien -KING OF UNDER 18- FINAL, First Round Tokyo, Japan TKO 1
2010-09-04 Win   Tensho Ato K-1 Koshien 2010 West Japan Selection Osaka, Japan KO (Punches) 3 0:30
2009-10-26 Loss   Shota Shimada K-1 World MAX 2009 World Championship Tournament Final K-1 Koshien Tournament Quarter Final Tokyo, Japan Decision 3 2:00
2009-08-10 Win   Hiroto Yamaguchi K-1 Koshien 2009 KING OF UNDER 18 -FINAL16- Tokyo, Japan Decision 3 2:00
2009-07-04 Win   Sho Ogawa K-1 Koshien 2009 Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Final Japan Ext.R Decision 2 2:00
2009-07-04 Win   Hiroto Iwasaki K-1 Koshien 2009 Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Semi Finals Japan Decision 1 2:00
2009-07-04 Win   Hideaki Ishida K-1 Koshien 2009 Chubu Region Selection Tournament, Quarter Finals Japan Decision 1 2:00
2009-07-04 Win   Shunsuke Okuno K-1 Koshien 2009 Chubu Region Selection Tournament, First Round Japan KO (Knee to the Body) 1
2008-07-27 Win   Ryota Terada 2008 MAJKF Amateur All Japan Tournament, Final Fuefuki, Japan
Wins the 2008 MAJKF Amateur All Japan Tournament Bantamweight Title.
2008-04-29 Win   Yuki Miwa MAJKF "BREAK THROUGH-3" Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00
2007-10-28 Win   Yuji Morihira 6th BRIDGE one match challenge Tokyo, Japan Decision 2 3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hiroki Akimoto profile at ONE Championship
  2. ^ "Hiroki Akimoto". evolve-mma.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Hiroki Akimoto | ONE Championship - Athletes". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Hiroki Akimoto - Evolve MMA Singapore | Asia's #1 Mixed Martial Arts Gym". Evolve MMA Singapore. January 27, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Aittama, Zach. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: December 2021". combatpress.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: June 2022". Combat Press. June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Athlete Rankings | ONE Championship". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "指導員紹介｜日本実戦空手道 七州会 広田支部／梅坪台支部 | 豊田市".
  9. ^ "Martial Arts Runs Through Hiroki Akimoto's Veins | ONE Championship - Features". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. January 24, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Here's What Hiroki Akimoto Has Planned For His Return To Japan - Evolve Daily". Evolve MMA Singapore. CNN. March 25, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "ONE Championship 1.25 マニラ：秋元皓貴、約6年経てキックボクシング復帰戦". boutreview.com. January 7, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "【ONE】秋元皓貴が3度のダウンを奪い6年ぶり復帰戦に勝利". efight.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  13. ^ "秋元皓貴 かつて天才の名をほしいままにした日本人キックボクサーがONEで電撃復帰！". tv-tokyo.co.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "【ONE】秋元皓貴、ダウンを奪われ21戦目にして初黒星". efight.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "【ONE】クアラルンプール大会 試合結果＝2019年7月12日". efight.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "Hiroki Akimoto Has His Eyes Set Firmly on Earning a Title Shot with Victory Over Zhang Chenglong". mma-japan.net. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Combat Press (October 16, 2020). "ONE Championship 'Reign of Dynasties II' Results: Akimoto Edges Out Chenglong". combatpress.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "【ONE】"破壊神"ロッタンがキックルールへ殴り込み！世界最強・ペトロシアンや秋元皓貴などの豪華カード決まる". efight.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "【ONE】空手＆ムエタイ王者・秋元皓貴が中国強豪チェンロンに激勝！3R強烈な右ストレートで返り討ちに". efight.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Saygid Arslanaliev rematches Timofey Nastyukhin at ONE: 'Winter Warriors'". Asian MMA. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  21. ^ "ONE Championship 'Winter Warriors' Results: Stamp Wins Grand Prix, Eersel Defends". Combat Press. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "【ONE】"空手天才ファイター"秋元皓貴、ついにバンタム級世界タイトルに挑戦！王者カピタンからベルト奪取なるか=3.26". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "【ONE】秋元皓貴 キックボクシングバンタム級新王者に！ONEスーパーシリーズでは日本人初王者の快挙". sponichi.co.jp. March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  24. ^ "ONE X Results: Lee Taps Stamp; Moraes, Nong-O and Superbon Defend; Akimoto Tops Capitan". Combat Press. March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "ONE X: Hiroki Akimoto steals the show in Singapore with thrilling win over Capitan to claim kickboxing title". scmp.com. March 26, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  26. ^ a b "【月間ベストファイター・3月】秋元皓貴がONEキック日本人初の戴冠、王者・カピタンに"空手技"で圧勝". efight.jp. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  27. ^ "【ONE】日本人初の立ち技王者・秋元皓貴が初防衛戦、相手は武林風T制したペッタノン「倒してもっと上に行く」=11.19". efight.jp. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "【ONE】秋元皓貴　キックボクシングバンタム級王座初防衛失敗…相手のテクニックに屈して判定負け". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  29. ^ "【ONE】秋元皓貴が中国人初K-1王者ウェイ・ルイと対戦「本当にたくさん試合を待ちました」＝5月4日『ONE Fight Night 22』ルンピニー". gonkaku.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  30. ^ "GBR>試合結果>【Maキック】2008年度新人王トーナメント2回戦＆新人戦の結果".
  31. ^ "【Ma日本キック】驚異の19歳王者誕生！秋元皓貴が16戦無敗7連続Koでベルト獲得".
  32. ^ "【Ma日本キック】4大タイトルマッチで激闘！秋元が森井を破り驚異の17連勝飾る".
  33. ^ "2012年10月度MVP 秋元皓貴". efight.jp. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  34. ^ Strobel, Kevin (January 31, 2023). "Beyond Kickboxing's 2022 Fight of the Year: Capitan Petchyindee vs. Hiroki Akimoto". beyondkick.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  35. ^ "空手道ＭＡＣ 第７回ジャパンカップ ジュニア空手道選手権大会結果". karatedo-mac.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  36. ^ "空手道ＭＡＣ 第８回ジャパンカップ ジュニア空手道選手権大会報告". karatedo-mac.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  37. ^ "第７回ジャパンカップ ジュニア空手道選手権大会". karatedo-mac.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  38. ^ "第１回JKJO全日本ジュニア空手道選手権大会 大会結果". karatedo-mac.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  39. ^ "第２回全日本フルコンタクト空手道選手権大会". fullcontact-karate.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  40. ^ "第３回全日本フルコンタクト空手道選手権大会". fullcontact-karate.jp. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  41. ^ "第４回全日本フルコンタクト空手道選手権大会結果". fullcontact-karate.jp. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  42. ^ "KWF KARATE GRANDPRIX 2017 Results". kwunion.com. March 28, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  43. ^ "The 31st KWF European Kyokushin Championship (October 13-14, 2017 Swinoujscie, Poland)". kyokushinkarate.news. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  44. ^ "Here are results from annual Karate Grandprix 2018". kwunion.com. March 26, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  45. ^ "【WFKO世界プロ極真】秋元皓貴がロシアの強豪を完封！！【８・２６千葉】 | カラテイチバン.com". Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.

External links edit

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