Hinata Watanabe 渡辺日菜太 |
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Born |
Hiratsuka, Japan |
August 26, 1986
Native name | 渡辺日菜太 |
Other names | Rising Sun HINATA |
Nationality | Japanese |
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) |
Weight | 70 kg (154 lb; 11 st 0 lb) |
Division | Welterweight |
Style | Karate, Kickboxing |
Stance | Southpaw |
Fighting out of | Hiratsuka, Japan |
Team | Shonan Kakuto Club |
Years active | 2005-present |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 60 |
Wins | 43 |
By knockout | 15 |
Losses | 16 |
By knockout | 7 |
Draws | 1 |
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Hinata Watanabe (born August 26, 1986 in Hiratsuka), or HINATA, is a Japanese welterweight kickboxer fighting out of Hiratsuka, Japan for the Shonan Kakuto Club. He is the 2008 R.I.S.E. champion currently competing in R.I.S.E. and K-1 MAX.
Hinata made his pro debut with R.I.S.E. at the G-Bazooka Tournament event in 2005 losing in a non-tournament match. Over the next couple of years he had a fairly unspectacular fight record on the local circuit winning nine and losing six between 2005 and 2007. He had his first taste of success in 2008 winning a playoff at R.I.S.E. 46 to earn himself a shot at the organizations middleweight title, against a fighter who had defeated Hinata the previous year, at R.I.S.E. 48. This time Hinata would have his revenge, beating Ryuji to win the R.I.S.E. middleweight title -70 kg. As champion he had an additional bonus - qualifying for the following year's K-1 MAX Japan tournament – as R.I.S.E. was a feeder for the larger K-1 organization.
In 2009 Hinata entered the annual K-1 World MAX Japan tournament with the victor having a chance at qualification for the K-1 World MAX final later that year. Hinata caused an upset by defeating the reigning K-1 MAX Japan champion Yasuhiro Kido by decision in the quarter finals. This victory did, however, come at a cost, with the young fighter being unable to continue in the tournament due to a broken nose suffered in the win. His performances at the K-1 MAX Japan lead to him being called up for a super fight at the K-1 World MAX 2009 Final 8 where he lost to The Contender Asia Series 1 fighter Dzhabar Askerov. He made a further appearance for K-1 before the end of the year at the K-1 World MAX 2009 Final in another super fight, this time shocking MAX regular and multiple world champion Mike Zambidis by taking a unanimous victory.