Sho Kimura


Sho Kimura is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBO flyweight title from 2017 to 2018.

Professional career

WBO Asia Pacific Title

on Nov 23, 2016, Kimura defeated Masahiro Sakamoto to win the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title.

WBO World Title

On Jul 28, 2017, Sho Kimura defeated Zou Shiming by 11th round knockout to win the title in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China. Kimura entered the fight ranked number 7 by the WBO. He entered the fight as a 10-1 underdog. The fight was promoted by Zou with an entirely new training and management team.
Kimura stopped the two-time Olympic champion with a flurry of punches late in the 11th round of the 12-round contest. Zou collapsed flat on his back under the onslaught and waved no more to a stunned capacity crowd at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 28-year-old Kimura suffered a cut eye as early as the third round – from an accidental head butt – and needed medical attention in the sixth but he fought on doggedly, delivering his payload late in the 11th round. Kimura had Zou backed up against the ropes before he went for the kill, landing a good right hook before a furious left-right combination staggered Zou. The Chinese star then crumbled with exhaustion. Zou failed to get up and Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan didn't bother even to count as the audience stood in stunned silence.
Officially, the bout was marked as a technical knockout victory with the stoppage coming two minutes and 28 seconds into the 11th round. The 36-year-old Zunyi-born Chinese fighter eventually got up – after a full minute – and after Kimura rushed to his corner to offer his help. A tearful Zou hugged his wife, Ying Ying Ran, who stood in shock disbelief. He grabbed the microphone before making what could be the longest post-fight speech in history.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss18–3–2 Carlos CañizalesUD1226 May 2019 Sports Center Gymnasium, Fuzhou, ChinaFor WBA light flyweight title
22Win18–2–2 Wicha PhulaikhaoKO3 30 Mar 2019 PuTuo Stadium, Shanghai, ChinaWon vacant OPBF Silver flyweight title
21Loss17–2–2 Kosei TanakaMD1224 Sep 2018 Takeda Teva Ocean Arena, Nagoya, JapanLost WBO flyweight title
20Win17–1–2 Froilan SaludarKO6, 0:5427 Jul 2018 Guosen Gymnasium, Qingdao, ChinaRetained WBO flyweight title
19Win16–1–2 Toshiyuki IgarashiTKO9, 2:3431 Dec 2017 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBO flyweight title
18Win15–1–2 Zou ShimingTKO11, 2:2828 Jul 2017 Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, ChinaWon WBO flyweight title
17Win14–1–2 Wisitsak SaiwaewKO2, 2:1113 May 2017 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, SAR
16Win13–1–2 Masahiro Sakamoto1223 Nov 2016 Sumiyoshi SportsCenter, Osaka, JapanWon vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title
15Win12–1–2 Thiraphong PhaephoKO1, 2:356 Jul 2016 Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand
14Win11–1–2 Yamato UchinonoTKO5, 1:4512 May 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13Win10–1–2 Takayuki TerajiTKO3, 2:2129 Feb 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
12Win9–1–2 Naoki ShodaTKO1, 1:2230 Nov 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win8–1–2 Ryo Narizuka6, 3:0017 Sep 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
10Win7–1–2 Kamon Singram2, 0:5125 Jul 2015 Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand
9Win6–1–2 Tomoyuki KanekoUD526 May 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
8Draw5–1–2 Isao AoyamaMD618 Feb 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
7Draw5–1–1 Akira Kokubo426 Sep 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Win5–1 Yuma KudoUD41 Jul 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
5Win4–1 Katsunori ShimookiUD44 Apr 2014 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win3–1 Rungkeat Sithsaithong429 Jan 2014 Suranaree Army Camp Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
3Win2–1 Ryo Irie424 Nov 2013 Hero's Boxing Gym, Fukaya, Japan
2Win1–1 Akira Kokubo424 Jul 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1Loss0–1 Shosuke Oji1, 1:1522 Apr 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Personal life

Sho Kimura was born in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. And currently resides in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Kimura has one brother and his mother died at the age of 44. At the press conference after the WBO flyweight title fight, Kimura admitted that the big driving factor was his mother. The fighter stated that he was determined to take the title to his mother's grave, as he did with the WBO Asia Pacific title when he won that last year. It's clear that this is a personal mission for him and something that really is a driving factor with his career going forward.
Before winning the WBO flyweight title, Kimura had been working as a deliveryman in Tokyo and was under extreme financial pressure - a hardship experienced by many boxers in the early stages of their career. During this period, Kimura only had time for training in the evenings.