Yūichi Kasai
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese boxing
trainer and a former three-time world title challenger in the junior featherweight
division.
Kasai was born in Yokohama
, Kanagawa Prefecture
, Japan
, and began boxing at the age of a high school student. He won the Japan's inter-high school championship in the bantamweight
division in 1987. Dropping out of the Senshu University
in one year with an amateur record of 44–4 (24 KOs), Kasai made his professional debut as a boxer managed by the Teiken Boxing Gym
at the Korakuen Hall
on August 12, 1989.
After winning the sixth edition of the annual Japanese boxing series, the Class A Tournament in the junior featherweight division in November 1991, he experienced three away matches in the first half of 1992. With the promotion by the gym's president Akihiko Honda
, he studied boxing in the United States
. At first he trained in Los Angeles
from February 1992, and won via a third round knockout at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood
, California
. Then he learned under the instruction of Miguel Diaz
at the Top Rank Gym while staying in Las Vegas, Nevada
, and won two fights there at the Thomas & Mack Center
and the Mirage
. Back then two Japanese boxers fought only in one match in Las Vegas, but no Japanese stayed there and fought twice.
Kasai gained the Japanese junior featherweight title via a second round knockout on September 5, 1992, and defended it twice. Miguel Diaz supported him as a chief second also in the fights in Japan. He was tied on points with the former Olympian Abraham Torres
in April 1993, and won on points against Jerome Coffee
in October of that year.
In March 1994 Kasai fought against the WBA
world junior featherweight champion Wilfredo Vázquez
as an undefeated challenger at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
where he was knocked out at two minutes five seconds of the first round. Making expeditions for the following fights, he won via a second round knockout in Maracay
, Venezuela
in June, and won via a seventh round technical decision at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center
in Honolulu in July of that year. Although he lost in a fight for the WBA Fedelatin junior featherweight title via a sixth round technical knockout in Caracas
, Venezuela in September of the same year, he captured the OPBF
junior featherweight title in the next fight on February 4, 1995, and defended it once.
Then while staying in Las Vegas again, after winning two matches at the Caesars Palace
and the MGM Grand Las Vegas
, Kasai was defeated in the showdown for the WBA world junior featherweight title against Antonio Cermeño
via a unanimous decision at the Aladdin
on December 21, 1996. He lost successively his third title shot against Cermeño via a final round knockout while being watched by 15,000 spectators at the Yokohama Arena
on July 26, 1997, and finally he retired as a boxer.
Currently Kasai acts as a trainer of the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo. He guided Toshiaki Nishioka
whom he has coached for nearly ten years, to the world title in 2008, and was presented with the nineteenth Eddie Townsend Award
that year. In 2011, Akifumi Shimoda
trained by Kasai was crowned the world champion. Shimoda is the Teiken Boxing Gym's second boxer following Masao Ohba
who became a world champion from a walk-in boxer with no experience. Kasai also serves as a commentator of the boxing broadcast on Nippon Television
including Nittele G+.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
trainer and a former three-time world title challenger in the junior featherweight
Super Bantamweight
Super bantamweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 122 pounds, or roughly 55.34 kilograms....
division.
Kasai was born in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, 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...
, and began boxing at the age of a high school student. He won the Japan's inter-high school championship in 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...
division in 1987. Dropping out of the Senshu University
Senshu University
is a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Former "Senshu College" was founded in 1880, the first school in Japan comprising Economics and Law Departments to systematically offer a specialized educational curriculum in the Japanese language....
in one year with an amateur record of 44–4 (24 KOs), Kasai made his professional debut as a boxer managed by 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...
at the Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...
on August 12, 1989.
After winning the sixth edition of the annual Japanese boxing series, the Class A Tournament in the junior featherweight division in November 1991, he experienced three away matches in the first half of 1992. With the promotion by the gym's president Akihiko Honda
Akihiko Honda
is a Japanese professional boxing promoter who was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008, and was also selected as an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.-1965 to 1990s:...
, he studied boxing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At first he trained in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from February 1992, and won via a third round knockout at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood
Inglewood
-Australia:*Inglewood, Queensland*Inglewood, Victoria*Inglewood, Western Australia-England:*Inglewood, a house in Cheshire*Inglewood Forest, Cumberland-United States:*Inglewood, California*Inglewood, Nebraska*Inglewood, Mecklenburg County, Virginia...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Then he learned under the instruction of Miguel Diaz
Miguel Diaz (boxing)
Miguel Angel Diaz is an Argentine boxing trainer who has trained fighters from Latin America and from the United States. Diaz was selected to receive the Futch–Condon Award for the 1999 Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of...
at the Top Rank Gym while staying in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and won two fights there at the Thomas & Mack Center
Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. For ring events, the capacity is 19,522, for basketball, the capacity is 18,776.-History:...
and the Mirage
The Mirage
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
. Back then two Japanese boxers fought only in one match in Las Vegas, but no Japanese stayed there and fought twice.
Kasai gained the Japanese junior featherweight title via a second round knockout on September 5, 1992, and defended it twice. Miguel Diaz supported him as a chief second also in the fights in Japan. He was tied on points with the former Olympian Abraham Torres
Abraham Torres
Abraham Torres is a former Venezuelan boxer, who was nicknamed "Habran". At the 1988 Summer Olympics, he lost in the third round of the men's bantamweight division to Thailand's eventual bronze medalist Phajol Moolsan.-External links:*...
in April 1993, and won on points against Jerome Coffee
Jerome Coffee
Jerome Coffee is a former American boxer.-Amateur career:Coffee had an outstanding amateur career and won several national championships, including:...
in October of that year.
In March 1994 Kasai fought against 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...
world junior featherweight champion Wilfredo Vázquez
Wilfredo Vázquez
Wilfredo Vázquez is a retired Puerto Rican professional boxer. He is a former World Champion at three different weights, Bantamweight, Super bantamweight and Featherweight.-Early life and amateur career:...
as an undefeated challenger at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
is a world-class sporting complex in Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1954 for the World Wrestling Championship, it was also used as the venue for gymnastics events at the 1964 Summer Olympics...
where he was knocked out at two minutes five seconds of the first round. Making expeditions for the following fights, he won via a second round knockout in Maracay
Maracay
Maracay is a city in north-central Venezuela, near the Caribbean coast, and is the capital and most important city of the state of Aragua. Most of it falls under the jurisdiction of the Girardot Municipality. The population as per the 2001 census was 750,000...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in June, and won via a seventh round technical decision at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center
Neal S. Blaisdell Center
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Honolulu CDP is a community center for the City & County of Honolulu. Constructed in 1964 on the historic Ward Estate and originally called the Hawaii International Center, the center was renamed after Mayor of Honolulu Neal S. Blaisdell...
in Honolulu in July of that year. Although he lost in a fight for the WBA Fedelatin junior featherweight title via a sixth round technical knockout in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela in September of the same year, he captured the OPBF
Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation
The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation is a professional boxing organization that sanctions title fights in the Asian and Pacific region.-History:The OPBF was formed in 1954 by the Japanese, Korean, and Filipino boxing commissions...
junior featherweight title in the next fight on February 4, 1995, and defended it once.
Then while staying in Las Vegas again, after winning two matches at the Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
and the MGM Grand Las Vegas
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
, Kasai was defeated in the showdown for the WBA world junior featherweight title against Antonio Cermeño
Antonio Cermeño
Antonio Cermeño Coloso is a retired boxer from Venezuela, who twice won the world title.-External links:*...
via a unanimous decision at the Aladdin
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, previously known as The Aladdin, is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, in the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada, United States. Westgate Resorts operates the condo portion of the property, known as PH Towers by Westgate.Planet Hollywood is owned by Caesars...
on December 21, 1996. He lost successively his third title shot against Cermeño via a final round knockout while being watched by 15,000 spectators at the Yokohama Arena
Yokohama Arena
is an indoor sporting arena located in Yokohama, Japan. The capacity of the arena is 17,000 and was opened in 1989. The arena was modeled after US sports venue Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is a five minute walk from the closest subway station, Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR/Yokohama...
on July 26, 1997, and finally he retired as a boxer.
Currently Kasai acts as a trainer of the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo. He guided Toshiaki Nishioka
Toshiaki Nishioka
is a Japanese professional boxer who is the current WBC super bantamweight champion. Nishioka is currently ranked as the #1 super bantamweight in the world by The Ring and ESPN. Unlike most other Japan's world champions, Nishioka has been willing to fight outside of his own country.- 1976 to 1990s...
whom he has coached for nearly ten years, to the world title in 2008, and was presented with the nineteenth Eddie Townsend Award
Eddie Townsend
Edward "Eddie" Townsend was an American professional boxing trainer.He is revered in Japan for training several boxing world champions. An award given to boxing trainers was established in his honor, and a boxing gym in Osaka, bears his name.-Biography:Townsend was born to an American father and a...
that year. In 2011, Akifumi Shimoda
Akifumi Shimoda
is a super bantamweight boxer from Japan and the former world champion of WBA at Super bantamweight. He was born in Hiroshima Prefecture, grew up in Kure city, and currently lives in Tokyo...
trained by Kasai was crowned the world champion. Shimoda is the Teiken Boxing Gym's second boxer following Masao Ohba
Masao Ohba
Masao Ohba was a professional boxer from Tokyo, Japan. He was the WBA flyweight champion at the time of his death.- Childhood and Early Career :...
who became a world champion from a walk-in boxer with no experience. Kasai also serves as a commentator of the boxing broadcast on Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
including Nittele G+.