Mika_Iwakawa

Mika Iwakawa

Mika Iwakawa

Japanese boxer (born 1983)

Mika Iwakawa (岩川美花, Iwakawa Mika, born 26 July 1983) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the IBF atomweight title from 2022 to 2024 and the WBO atomweight title from 2018 to 2022.

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Professional career

Early career

Iwakawa made her professional debut on 19 December 2011, where she defeated Shoko Hayashida by knockout KO in a four-round bout at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.[2] Iwakawa went on to amass a 5–4–1 record over the next five years, before being booked to face Narirat Klaphom for the vacant OPBF female light flyweight title on 20 August 2016. She captured her first professional title by a second-round technical knockout.[3] Winning this title earned Iwakawa the right to challenge the once-defeated Yunoka Furukawa for the WBA female atomweight title on 13 December 2016, in the co-main event of DANGAN LADIES vol.3, which was held on 13 December 2016 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[4] She lost the fight by a closely contested majority decision, with two judges scoring the bout 96–94 and 97–93 for Furukawa, while the third judge scored it an event 95–95.[5]

Atomweight world champion

WBO atomweight champion

On 30 June 2018, it was revealed that Iwakawa would face the reigning WBO female atomweight champion Nao Ikeyama, in what was Ikeyama's seventh title defense.[6] The title bout took place on 29 July 2018, at the KBS Hall in Kyoto, Japan.[7] She won the fight by split decision, with two 96–94 scorecards for Iwakawa and one 96–94 scorecard for her opponent. The 48-year old Ikeyama announced her intention to retire in her post-fight interview.[8]

Iwakawa was booked to face the journeyman Momoko Kanda in a non-title bout on 7 December 2019. Iwakawa fought the #1 ranked WBO flyweight to stay busy, as she had been out of the ring for 17 months, with her previous bout against Nao Ikeyama taking place on 29 July 2018. Iwakawa beat Kanda by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding her a 78-74 scorecard.[9] Iwakawa made her first WBO atomweight title defense against Nanae Suzuki on 26 September 2020, at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan. Iwakawa maintained distance and scored points by landing one-twos, and was awarded a split decision. Two judges scored the fight 96–94 and 97–93 for her, while the third judge scored it 97–93 for Suzuki.[10]

On 5 April 2021, Tadanori Yamashita, the chairman of her former gym Takasago Gym, was arrested and had his boxing license suspended. Following this, Iwakawa left and began training at the Himeji Kinoshita Gym.[11] On 27 December of the same year, it was announced that Iwakawa and Nanae Suzuki would face each other in an immediate rematch, due to the close nature of their first meeting.[12] The bout took place on 25 February 2022.[13] Iwakawa lost the fight by split decision, with scores of 96–94, 94–96 and 94–96.[14]

IBF atomweight champion

During a press conference held on 21 July 2022, it was announced that Iwakawa would challenge Ayaka Miyao for the IBF female atomweight title on the undercard of "Queens Crest 2022", an all female event held jointly by Shinsei Promotion, Misako Promotion and DANGAN.[15][16] She won the fight by a close unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 96–94 in her favor.[17][18]

Iwakawa faced Ploypailin Palatsrichuai in a stay-busy, non-title bout on 26 February 2023. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[19]

Iwakawa lost the IBF World title to fellow Japanese boxer Sumire Yamanaka with a unanimous decision defeat at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on 12 January 2024.[20]

Professional boxing record

More information 20 fights, 12 wins ...
More information No., Result ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "全日本女子選手権 釘宮が1ポイント差で水野のV7を阻止". livedoor.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Former amateur champion Mika Iwakawa won by KO in her debut bout". Far East Women Boxing. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2021 – via sites.google.com.
  3. [3]
    "竹中佳は判定負け、WBO女子L･フライ級戦". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. [4]
    "岩川美花が世界初挑戦　強打の王者・古川攻略に自信". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. [5]
    "王者・古川　判定勝ちでベルト死守「池山さんとも戦ってみたい」". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. [6]
    "48歳の池山直　最年長世界防衛記録へ意気込み". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  7. [7]
    "岩川美花「レジェンドを継承する」". boxmob.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  8. [8]
    "48歳の池山直が王座陥落、岩川美花が新王者に". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  9. [9]
    "平井亮輝が日本王座再挑戦をアピール　 元日本王者の西谷、女子世界王者の岩川も勝利". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. [10]
    "王者岩川美花２年越し初防衛　女子ボクシング世界戦". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  11. [11]
    "WBO女子世界アトム級王者・岩川美花　姫路木下ジムへ移籍　前所属の高砂ジムは無期限の活動停止中". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  12. [12]
    "岩川美花に鈴木菜々江が再挑戦!". boxmob.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  13. [13]
    "右肩故障から復活の岩川美花、２５日に仕切り直しの世界Ｖ２戦　めざすはフルマーク完勝". hochi.news. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. [14]
    "作戦ミスに誤算重なる　ボクシング岩川美花（高知県香南市出身）防衛失敗". kochinews.co.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  15. [15]
    "「女子5大タイトルマッチ」9・1後楽園ホールで開催　国内プロボクシング女子として最大規模". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. [16]
    "9月1日 女子ボクシング5大タイトルマッチ興行【Queens Crest 2022】を開催！". prtimes.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  17. [17]
    "前WBO王者岩川美花７カ月ぶり再起戦で世界王座返り咲き成功　IBFアトム級宮尾綾香に判定勝ち". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  18. [18]
    "元WBO王者・岩川美花が3―0判定勝ちでIBF王座奪取　統一戦は"憧れの人"に会ってから". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  19. [19]
    "高知のホープ 福永宇宙が不敗の12連勝　女子世界王者の岩川美花は無冠戦に勝利". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Yamanaka becomes first Japanese sister/brother world champ". fight news.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
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