Yasuei Yakushiji
| Yasuei Yakushiji | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Yasuei Yakushiji |
| Nickname(s) | none |
| Rated at | Bantamweight |
| Nationality |
 Japanese
|
| Born |
July 22, 1968 Tsukumi, Ōita, Japan |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 28 |
| Wins | 24 |
| Wins by KO | 16 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Yasuei Yakushiji (薬師寺保栄 Yakushiji Yasuei?, born July 22, 1968, in Tsukumi, Ōita, Japan) is a former professional boxer who fought in the bantamweight division. He successfully defended the WBC bantamweight title four times during his career.
Yakushiji began boxing under influence of his father, who was an amateur boxer. He advanced to the semi-finals in the 1986 Inter-high school tournament, and joined the Matsuda boxing gym in 1987, after graduating from high school. He made his professional debut in July of that year.
He made a poor showing early on, winning only 3 of the first 6 fights of his professional career. Even his own trainer doubted that he would win the Japanese title, let alone a world title at this point.
In 1989, he was arrested for speeding on a motorcycle with some of his high school friends, and received a 6-month suspension from the Japanese Boxing Commission. He had to travel to Singapore to continue his training during this period.
In June, 1990, he won a bout by 10 round KO, but his opponent died of injuries several days later. Yakushiji seriously contemplated retirement, but decided to continue his career. He traveled to Los Angeles, and met Japanese-American trainer Mack Kurihara, who greatly increased Yakushiji's skills in the ring. Yakushiji won the Japanese bantamweight title in June, 1991, and defended it once in December before returning it.
On December 23, 1993, Yakushiji got his first shot at the world title, against Jung-Il Byun of South Korea. Yakushiji was actually a substitute for Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, who had sustained a detached left retina, and had backed out of the title match. Yakushiji won by 12 round split decision, winning the WBC bantamweight title. He defended the title once by a 10 round KO win, and faced Byun again in July, 1994, winning again by 11 round TKO after putting Byun down to the canvas five times.
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