Shinji Takehara
| Shinji Takehara | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Shinji Takehara |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Nationality |
 Japanese
|
| Born |
January 25, 1972 Hiroshima, Japan |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 25 |
| Wins | 24 |
| Wins by KO | 18 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Shinji Takehara (竹原慎二? Takehara Shinji, born January 25, 1972 in Fuchū, Hiroshima) was a professional boxer in the Middleweight (160lb) division. He was the first and only boxer from Japan to capture a World Middleweight Title.
Takehara turned pro in 1989 and had a relatively short professional career, spanning only seven years. In 1995 he landed a shot at the WBA Middleweight Title against Jorge Fernando Castro and won by decision. Takehara lost the belt in his only defeat during his first defense to William Joppy in a 9th round TKO. He was overwhelmed in the first round and appeared unable to determine incoming attacks. Ringside doctors examination discovered Takehara had posterior vitreous detachment which progressed into retinal detachment and subsequently forced him into retirement.
Takehara got into numerous street fights during his teens. He briefly played baseball before joining the school judo team. Takehara did not move on to high school, after graduating middle school, he moved to Tokyo in 1988 to start a boxing career. He took numerous part-time jobs while training, including working as a cleaning man at Yokohama Arena, where he would later make his first (and only) title defense of the WBA Middleweight Title.
Takehara made his debut on May 15, 1989 with a 4th round KO victory. He went on to win the Japanese Middleweight Title in 1991, defending it three times. He won the vacant OPBF Middleweight Title in 1993, which he defended six times.
Takehara got a shot against WBA Middleweight Champion Jorge Castro, who had a record of 98-4-2 at the time and had made five title defenses. Takehara went into the fight as a huge underdog, and the match took place in the tiny Korakuen Hall despite being a world title bout. Regardless, Takehara knocked Castro down in the 3rd round, and won by unanimous decision in 12 rounds, becoming the first ever Japanese boxer to win a world middleweight title.
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