Masao Ōba
| Masao Ohba | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Masao Ohba |
| Nickname(s) | The Eternal Champion |
| Rated at | Flyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 5.5 in (1.66 m) |
| Nationality |
 Japanese
|
| Born | October 21, 1949 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | January 25, 1973 (aged 23) Tokyo, Japan |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 38 |
| Wins | 35 |
| Wins by KO | 16 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Masao Ohba (大場 政夫, October 21, 1949 – January 25, 1973) was a professional boxer from Tokyo, Japan. He became the WBA flyweight champion on October 22, 1970, defeating the reigning champion Berkrerk Chartvanchai in Tokyo and retained the championship for an impressive five title defenses. He died in a car accident at 22, still holding his world title. He was trained by Isamu Kuwata.
Ohba was born on October 21, 1949. Ohba's father was a factory worker and a compulsive gambler, causing him to know poverty from an early age. His father followed professional boxing as an avid fan which influenced Ohba's childhood aspirations and dreams. By the time Ohba was in elementary school, he dreamt of becoming a world champion, and bringing himself and his family out of poverty.
After completing middle school, he took a job in a candy shop to help support his family and trained as a boxer in the evening. He joined the Teiken Boxing Gym in 1965. Because Ohba weighed only about 105 pounds and barely stood five feet when he entered the gym, the trainers doubted that he would be successful as a professional boxer. He trained hard, putting on the seven pounds of muscle he needed to box within the flyweight range by the time he made his debut. He later had trouble making the strict flyweight limit later in his career, and at nearly five feet six inches was somewhat tall for a flyweight.
Ohba made his professional debut in November 7, 1966, at the age of 17 against Kazuyoshi Watanabe in Tokyo. Between November 1966 and August 1968, he won all but one of his first eighteen bouts, with one draw. He fought all of these matches in his hometown of Tokyo.
On December 14, 1969, he defeated Bernabe Villacampo in a non-title fight by way of a ten round Unanimous Decision on points in Tokyo. Villicampo was Flyweight Champion at the time, making Oba's clear win an important victory, as well as an upset.
He got his first world title shot on October 22, 1970 at Nichidi Auditorium, Nihon University, in Tokyo, against Berkrerk Chartvanchai, who was the WBA World flyweight champion. He won by TKO in the 13th round before a crowd of 7000, becoming the eighth Japanese boxer to capture a world title. According to one source, the bout was postponed from its initial date when Chartvanchai took ill with a high fever. Chartvanchai was down three times before finally being called out for the full count. Enrique Jimenez refereed. Oba finished off Chartvanchai with a volley of punches to the head at 2:16 into the thirteenth round. Charvantchai had trouble making the weight limit, even after doing light exercise and taking a steam bath, which may have weakened him for the bout. Oba gained a considerable lead in points throughout the match. Chartvanchai was weakened both by a cut to his eye he received in the fourth round which gave him trouble and the efforts he took to make weight.
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