Shuichiro Yoshino

Shuichiro Yoshino was born on September 28, 1991, in Kanuma, Tochigi, Japan. He made his professional boxing debut at the age of 24, on December 14, 2015, and has yet to win a major world title. Yoshino follows the Japanese boxing tradition of not focusing on building an impressive record but instead taking on tough opponents, both in his nation and worldwide, which is reflected in his remarkable record of 16-1. He became a prominent figure in the lightweight division by defeating his compatriot, Masayoshi Nakatani, in an electrifying bout in the fall of 2022, bringing his record to 16-0.

However, Yoshino faced a significant challenge when he moved from the 130 to the 135 division to face Shakur Stevenson, considered one of the most skilled boxers in the four-belt era. Although he lost to Stevenson via stoppage and ended his undefeated record, Yoshino displayed exceptional physical and technical skills and refused to back down. He even showed remarkable courage by facing a formidable opponent in a non-full world title bout. With numerous stars and top contenders in the division, who knows, perhaps one day we may refer to Yoshino as the unified or undefeated champion of the lightweight division. It's worth noting that he has also captured other prestigious titles, such as the Japan Boxing Commission, Japanese Light Oriental, and Pacific Boxing Federation Light WBO Asia Pacific Light titles.

Yoshino is a high guard fighter with a talent for controlling the fight's location in the ring, displaying a high boxing IQ. Even when pushed against the ropes by tough opponents in the lightweight division, he manages to avoid taking excessive damage due to his high guard, which allows him to deflect most of the punches that come his way. His head movement enables him to slip and roll even the sharpest of jabs, preventing his opponents from setting up hard combinations and setting the stage for his phenomenal counter-punching. His footwork provides a solid foundation, allowing him to pivot his opponents on the ropes and evade punches through lateral movement. With every step and slip, he seizes opportunities to counter with big body hooks and uppercuts to the head.

Yoshino excels at range control, using his jab effectively to set up his shots carefully and load up on power punches without entering his opponent's danger zone. His feints are as effective as his jabs, forcing opponents to engage him while backing up and facilitating power-punching combinations. Despite his technical boxing style, Yoshino's physical attributes, including his height and reach advantage in the lightweight division, make him a challenging opponent to deal with. He utilizes this physical advantage to control distance, keeping opponents at bay with his jab and straight punches. However, all these physical and technical gifts would be in vain without mental toughness, and Yoshino has demonstrated plenty of it in the ring, resembling a modern samurai. He has weathered tough moments in fights, displaying resilience and a fighting spirit that resonates with fans.