One of the greatest kickboxers in modern history finally has a fond boxing memory.
Tenshin Nasukawa enjoyed a successful pro debut of countryman Yuki Yonaha. Scores were 59-55, 60-53 and 60-53 for Nasukawa in their ESPN+ aired junior featherweight bout Saturday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Nasukawa produced the bout’s lone knockdown in round two, though under dubious circumstances. The 24-year-old southpaw from Tokyo repeatedly landed with his straight left hand. However, it was a blow to the base of the skull which caused Yonaha to fall to the canvas. Yonaha was turning as Nasukawa’s punch was already in motion, thus ruled a knockdown rather than a foul though it’s entirely clear that the referee missed the infraction altogether.
Far clearer punching was offered by Nasukawa throughout the celebrated contest, which was the primary driver in the event promotion. Yonaha enjoyed brief moments of success with right hands but even those occasions left the 32-year-old Kobe native wide open for left hand counters.
Nasukawa (1-0, 0KOs) also mixed it up to the body but was largely left-hand dependent throughout his first official boxing match. It was enough to turn away Yonaha, who fell to 12-5-1 (8KOs) with his second straight defeat.
The bout provided a far more positive memory for Nasukawa than his previous ring appearances, both in exhibition bouts and neither ending with his hand raised.
Boxing fans who were not familiar with Nasukawa’s extensive combat sports background forever associated his name with his disastrous 2018 New Year’s Eve knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather. The size difference in the fight was embarrassing, as Mayweather—a Hall of Fame five-division champion and one of the greatest boxers in history—was more than 20 pounds heavier than the career featherweight whom he floored three times in just 140 seconds.
Nasukawa also participated in a two-round exhibition versus Japanese mixed martial artist Takanori Gomi on 2021 New Year’s Eve which didn’t produce a winner.
The heart of his legacy came as a kickboxer, which Nasukawa amassed a perfect 44-0 record during his ten-year career. He was pursued by nearly every major Japanese boxing promoter since he was a preteen, including Mr. Honda’s Teiken Promotions who finally landed him earlier this year.
Headlining the show, lineal/WBA/WBC junior flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (20-1, 12KOs) defends his crown versus late replacement Anthony Olascuaga (5-0, 3KOs).
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox