Masao Ohba
Encyclopedia
Masao Ohba was a professional boxer from Tokyo
, Japan
. He was the WBA
flyweight
champion
at the time of his death.
He completed middle school, and joined the Teiken Boxing Gym
in 1965. However, Ohba weighed only about 105 pounds and was barely 5 feet tall when he entered the gym, and the trainers doubted that he would be successful as a professional boxer. However, Ohba became a large flyweight by the time he made his debut, and actually had trouble losing weight to fit in the flyweight division later in his career.
flyweight
champion
. He won by TKO in the 13th round, becoming the 8th Japanese boxer to capture a world title.
Ohba made his first three defenses by 15 round decision, and his 4th defense by 5th round KO. He also fought four non-title matches in between his defenses, winning all of them as well.
, for his 5th defense. Ohba was knocked down with a right hook in the first round, and also injured his right ankle while falling to the canvas. Ohba managed to pick himself up, and his corner iced his ankle in between rounds, but Ohba limped as he exchanged punches with Chionoi.
Even with his injury, Ohba still managed to overpower Chionoi in the middle rounds, and finally knocked down the challenger in the 12th round. Chionoi was knocked down two more times in the round, and Ohba marked a dramatic 12th round KO win for his 5th defense.
down an expressway in Tokyo
, when he hit a truck coming down the opposite lane. He was only 23 years old, and was still in possession of the WBA
title.
Ohba was dubbed "The Eternal Champion," because he died as a world champion, and was undefeated in world title bouts. He had been planning on returning his flyweight title to challenge the bantamweight
title before his death. His professional record was 35-2-1 (16KOs).
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
at the time of his death.
Childhood and Early Career
Ohba's father was a compulsive gambler, so Ohba grew up in a very poor family. His father was an avid fan of professional boxing, and by the time Ohba was in elementary school, he was already dreaming of becoming a world champion, and bringing himself and his family out of poverty.He completed middle school, and joined the Teiken Boxing Gym
Teiken Boxing Gym
in Tokyo, a Japan's traditional boxing club whose genesis dates back to 1926, manages professional boxers as a member of the , a subsidiary body of . Currently located in Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, its president is the International Boxing Hall of Famer , the representative is , and the long-time female...
in 1965. However, Ohba weighed only about 105 pounds and was barely 5 feet tall when he entered the gym, and the trainers doubted that he would be successful as a professional boxer. However, Ohba became a large flyweight by the time he made his debut, and actually had trouble losing weight to fit in the flyweight division later in his career.
Professional career
Ohba made his professional debut in November, 1966, at the age of 17. He got his first world title shot on October 22, 1970, against Berkrerk Chartvanchai, who was the WBAWorld Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
. He won by TKO in the 13th round, becoming the 8th Japanese boxer to capture a world title.
Ohba made his first three defenses by 15 round decision, and his 4th defense by 5th round KO. He also fought four non-title matches in between his defenses, winning all of them as well.
Last Fight
On January 2, 1973, Ohba faced the veteran, Chartchai ChionoiChartchai Chionoi
Chartchai Chionoi a.k.a. Chartchai Laemfapha is a former professional Thai boxer and WBC World champion in Flyweight division....
, for his 5th defense. Ohba was knocked down with a right hook in the first round, and also injured his right ankle while falling to the canvas. Ohba managed to pick himself up, and his corner iced his ankle in between rounds, but Ohba limped as he exchanged punches with Chionoi.
Even with his injury, Ohba still managed to overpower Chionoi in the middle rounds, and finally knocked down the challenger in the 12th round. Chionoi was knocked down two more times in the round, and Ohba marked a dramatic 12th round KO win for his 5th defense.
Death
On January 24, only three weeks after his latest defense, Ohba died in a car accident. He was driving his Chevrolet CorvetteChevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after...
down an expressway in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, when he hit a truck coming down the opposite lane. He was only 23 years old, and was still in possession of the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
title.
Ohba was dubbed "The Eternal Champion," because he died as a world champion, and was undefeated in world title bouts. He had been planning on returning his flyweight title to challenge the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
title before his death. His professional record was 35-2-1 (16KOs).