Ryosuke Iwasa


Ryosuke Iwasa is a Japanese professional boxer. He held the IBF super-bantamweight title from 2017 to 2018 and the interim version from 2019 to April 2021. He also challenged for the unified WBA (Super) and IBF super-bantamweight titles in April 2021.
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Career

Iwasa turned pro in 2008, after winning national titles as an amateur and accruing a 60–6 record. Iwasa was considered a highly touted prospect until he lost a bout for the Japanese bantamweight title against future world champion Shinsuke Yamanaka. Iwasa would eventually win that title, as well as the OPBF title.
Iwasa's first world title fight would come against Lee Haskins for the interim IBF bantamweight title in June 2015. Iwasa would be stopped in round 6 after being knocked down by a left hook from Haskins. Following that loss, Iwasa moved to the super bantamweight division.
In his fifth fight at that weight, Iwasa defeated Yukinori Oguni for the IBF super bantamweight title. Iwasa battered the defending champion, dropping him three times before the fight was stopped in round 6.
In his first title defense, Iwasa faced Ernesto Saulong. Iwasa retained his IBF super bantamweight title for the first time, via unanimous decision.
His second title defense came against Irishman T. J. Doheny. Doheny was the busier man on the night, outjabbing Iwasa for most of the fight. However, Iwasa seemed to be more precise and causing more visible damage to Doheny. Even to Doheny's slight surprise, all three judges scored the fight in his favor, leaving Iwasa without his belt in only his second defense.
Iwasa bounced back in the next fight, called as an IBF final eliminator, by defeating Cesar Juarez via technical decision. Both fighters clashed heads in the second round that opened cuts for both, but it was Juarez who took more damage in the remainder of the fight. The fight was called off in the tenth round, and since Iwasa was up on two of the scorecards, he got awarded the victory.
In his next fight, Iwasa fought Marlon Tapales for the interim IBF super bantamweight belt. Iwasa was ranked #1 by the IBF at the time, while Tapales was #3 at super bantamweight. Iwasa outboxed Tapales for most of the fight, before rocking him with a well-placed overhand left in the eleventh round. Tapales beat the count, but was stumbling when the referee asked if he could continue, which prompted the referee to stop the fight and award Iwasa the TKO win.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Loss28–5Japhethlee LlamidoUD8Apr 15, 2023Paradise City Plaza, Incheon, South Korea
32Win28–4Genesis ServaniaKO4, 1:46Oct 25, 2021Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
31Loss27–4Murodjon AkhmadalievTKO5, 1:30Apr 3, 2021Humo Arena, Tashkent, UzbekistanFor WBA (Super) and IBF super-bantamweight titles
30Win27–3Marlon TapalesTKO11, 1:09Dec 7, 2019Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.Won IBF interim super-bantamweight title
29Win26–3Cesar JuarezTD9, 3:00Feb 16, 2019Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Unanimous TD after Juarez cut from accidental head clash
28Loss25–3TJ DohenyUD12Aug 16, 2018Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanLost IBF super-bantamweight title
27Win25–2Ernesto SaulongUD12Mar 1, 2018Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained IBF super-bantamweight title
26Win24–2Yukinori OguniTKO6, 2:16Sep 13, 2017EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, JapanWon IBF super-bantamweight title
25Win23–2Glenn MeduraTKO3, 2:55Mar 2, 2017Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan
24Win22–2Aekkawee KaewmaneeKO3, 2:17Jul 12, 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
23Win21–2Dennis TubieronKO7, 1:42Feb 6, 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
22Win20–2Marlon Arcilla5, 0:15Nov 24, 2015Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan
21Loss19–2Lee HaskinsTKO6, 2:10Jun 13, 2015Whitchurch Sports Centre, Bristol, EnglandFor IBF interim bantamweight title
20Win19–1Ricardo RoaTKO2, 2:55Feb 18, 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
19Win18–1Rommy WassarKO2, 1:03Sep 6, 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
18Win17–1Richard Pumicpic12Mar 25, 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF bantamweight title
17Win16–1Hiroki ShiinoTKO5, 2:52Dec 6, 2013Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanWon OPBF bantamweight title
16Win15–1Jecker BuhaweUD10Jul 6, 2013Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
15Win14–1Mark John YapUD10Mar 2, 2013Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
14Win13–1David De La MoraUD10Oct 27, 2012Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, Japan
13Win12–1Kentaro MasudaTKO7, 1:49Jul 7, 2012Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese bantamweight title
12Win11–1Yuki MuraiKO1, 3:00Mar 3, 2012Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese bantamweight title
11Win10–1Jerope MercadoUD10Nov 18, 2011Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon Japanese bantamweight title
10Win9–1RasmanudinKO2, 0:41Aug 6, 2011Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
9Loss8–1Shinsuke YamanakaTKO10, 1:28Mar 5, 2011Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor Japanese bantamweight title
8Win8–0Kinshiro UsuiTKO4, 1:08Sep 5, 2010Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
7Win7–0Yuki SatoTKO2, 2:14Apr 15, 2010Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
6Win6–0Marvin TampusUD8Jan 16, 2010Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
5Win5–0Falazona FidalTKO7, 1:04Sep 5, 2009Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0Worawut Muangsima2, 1:58May 16, 2009Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
3Win3–0Ginzo HanakiTKO1, 2:11Feb 21, 2009Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Edgar Allende6Oct 16, 2008Yoyogi First Gym, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Shinya Takahashi5, 0:43Aug 2, 2008Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan