Ryoichi Taguchi pugile

Ryoichi Taguchi (田口 良一, Taguchi Ryōichi, born 1 December 1986) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 2006 to 2019. He was a unified light-flyweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 2014 to 2018 and the IBF and Ring magazine titles from 2017 to 2018.Taguchi made his professional debut on July 19, 2006, against Tomohiro Seo and won the fight by a first-round knockout. By December 28, 2009, he had amassed a 10-1 record, with four of those victories coming by way of stoppage.In late 2011, Taguchi entered the Japanese light-flyweight contender tournament, held to determine the next Japanese light-flyweight title challenger. He faced Tetsuya Hisada in the tournament semifinals, held on July 5, 2011, and won the fight by unanimous decision. Taguchi faced Yu Kimura in the tournament finals, held on October 15, 2011, and won the fight by an sixth-round technical knockout.Taguchi challenged the Japanese light-flyweight champion Masayuki Kuroda on March 12, 2012, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The fight was ruled a split decision draw after ten rounds were contested. Taguchi was afterwards scheduled to face Eakkasit Jaikongkaew on July 16, 2012. Eakkasit failed to make weight for the bout and was accordingly banned from competing in Japan by the JBC for a period of one year, although he was still allowed to fight Taguchi. Taguchi won the fight by a first-round knockout.Taguchi was scheduled to fight Yuki Chinen for the vacant Japanese light-flyweight title on April 3, 2013. He won the ten-round bout by unanimous decision, with scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. During his post-fight interview, Taguchi called out the #6 ranked Japanese light-flyweight Naoya Inoue for his first title defense. His wish granted by the JBC, Taguchi was scheduled to face Inoue on August 25, 2013, in his first title defense. Taguchi lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 97-94.Taguchi returned to action four months after suffering his second professional loss, to face Ryan Bito on December 31, 2013, in a 49.5 kg catchweight bout. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 78-74, 78-75 and 78-74. Taguchi was next scheduled to face the former IBF minumumweight champion Florante Condes on July 5, 2014. He won the fight by unanimous decision, narrowly edging out the former champion with scores of 77-74, 77-74 and 76-75.