Takahiro Ao


Takahiro Ao is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2018. He was a two-division world champion, having held the WBC featherweight title in 2009 and the WBC super featherweight title from 2010 to 2012. He also challenged for the vacant WBO lightweight title in 2015.

Professional career

Ao turned professional in September 2003 at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. In his debut Ao defeated fellow Japanese boxer Hiroshi Kashihara with a second round knockout.
Ao is managed by the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo, and trains under Sendai Tanaka's guidance. He has often attended Marco Antonio Barrera's training camp since 2003, because he was appreciated for his speed and heavy fists, and served as Barrera's chief sparring partner in August 2007.
After thirteen unbeaten fights Ao beat Koji Umetsu for the Japanese featherweight title in March 2007.
Ao lost via split decision to champion Óscar Larios on October 16, 2008. Despite flooring Larios in the 4th round, Ao managed to lose a decision in the close and contested bout.
Fortunate for him, Ao got another chance at Larios' title on March 12, 2009. There, he applied more offensive tactics which resulted Larios dropping in the 12th round. Ao won the match by unanimous decision. On his first defense of the title held on July 14 that same year, Ao lost to Elio Rojas by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Win28-3-1 Gamaliel DiazUD81 Mar 2018Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan.png" />
32NC27-3-1 Raymundo BeltranNC121 May 2015The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, US.png" />For vacant WBO lightweight title
31Win27-3-1 Juan Carlos SalgadoUD1022 Oct 2014
30Win26-3-1 Marco Antonio LopezUD1023 Apr 2014Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan.png" />
29Win25-3-1 Edgar Alejandro LomeliKO1, 3:0310 Nov 2013
28Win24-3-1 Hardy ParedesKO2, 2:5113 Jul 2013Hollywood Park Casino, Inglewood, California, US.png" />
27Loss23-3-1 Gamaliel DíazUD1227 Oct 2012Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan.png" />Lost WBC super featherweight title
26Win23–2–1 Terdsak KokietgymUD126 Apr 2012Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan.png" />Retained WBC super featherweight title
25Win22–2–1 Devis BoschieroSD126 Nov 2011Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.png" />Retained WBC super featherweight title
24Win21–2–1 Humberto GutiérrezKO4, 1:068 Apr 2011World Memorial Hall, Kobe, Japan.png" />Retained WBC super featherweight title
23Win20–2–1 Vitali TajbertUD1226 Nov 2010Nippon Gaishi Hall, Nagoya, Japan.png" />Won WBC super featherweight title
22Win19–2–1 Whyber GarcíaTKO8, 1:4830 Apr 2010Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan.png" />
21Win18–2–1 Feider ViloriaUD1018 Dec 2009Memorial Hall, Kobe, Japan.png" />
20Loss17–2–1 Elio RojasUD1214 Jul 2009Lost WBC featherweight title
19Win17–1–1 Óscar LariosUD1212 Mar 2009Won WBC featherweight title
18Loss16–1–1 Óscar LariosSD1216 Oct 2008Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.png" />For WBC featherweight title
17Draw16–0–1 Hiroyuki EnokiUD125 Apr 2008JCB Hall, Tokyo, Japan.png" />For Japanese and OBPF featherweight titles
16Win16–0 Noriyuki UenoUD103 Nov 2007Retained Japanese featherweight title
15Win15–0 Keisuke AkibaUD107 Jul 2007Retained Japanese featherweight title
14Win14–0 Koji UmetsuUD103 Mar 2007Won Japanese featherweight title
13Win13–0 Gabriel PérezTKO6, 1:2713 Nov 2006
12Win12–0 Francisco DianzoUD103 Jun 2006
11Win11–0 Oswaldo JuarezKO2, 2:1425 Mar 2006-
10Win10–0 Richard CarrilloUD107 Jan 2006
9Win9–0 Jae-Choon MoonTKO1, 2:5425 Sep 2005Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan.png" />
8Win8–0 Yoshinori MiyataUD102 Jul 2005
7Win7–0 Mario RodríguezUD616 April 2005
6Win6–0 Sang-Chan NaKO1, 3:075 Feb 2005
5Win5–0 Yosuke SatoUD82 Oct 2004
4Win4–0 Hisami KitaharaTKO5, 2:221 May 2004
3Win3–0 Nilyon NuñezKO3, 1:2331 Jan 2004Poliedro de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.png" />
2Win2–0 Takashi SaryoKO1, 2:266 Dec 2003
1Win1–0 Hiroshi KashiharaTKO2, 0:496 Sep 2003