Royal Kobayashi
| Royal Kobayashi | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Kazuo Kobayashi |
| Rated at |
featherweight junior featherweight |
| Height | 5 ft 5 1⁄2 in (1.66 m) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born |
10 October 1949 Shimomashiki District, Kumamoto, Japan |
| Stance | orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 43 |
| Wins | 35 |
| Wins by KO | 27 |
| Losses | 8 |
Kazuo Kobayashi (小林 和男 Kobayashi Kazuo?, born October 10, 1949), better known as Royal Kobayashi, is a retired Japanese boxer who competed at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in the featherweight division, and won the Lineal and WBC junior featherweight titles in 1976. He is an alumnus of the Takushoku University.
Kobayashi who had practiced kendo until high school graduation, began boxing after admission to the Physical Training School of the Self Defense Forces. He won the All-Japan Amateur Boxing Championships in the featherweight division in 1971 and 1972.
Kobayashi represented Japan at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. In the second round match against Pat Ryan, Kobayashi knocked him down thrice, badly damaged his face, and won by a 4–1 decision. Beaver County Times called it "the most ridiculous decision of the night". Kobayashi then knocked out Italy's Pasqualino Morbidelli in one round, before losing 1–4 to András Botos in the quarterfinals. He compiled an amateur record of 34–3 (28 KOs) before turning professional.
Since Kobayashi was an amateur boxer, he was said to be suitable for professional for his hard punches. In 1973, Kobayashi ran into Yoshinori Takahashi who is the president of Kokusai Boxing Sports Gym established in Tokyo in 1971 at a sports massage clinic, and was encouraged to turn professional.
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