Ginjiro Shigeoka

Ginjiro Shigeoka (重岡銀次朗, Shigeoka Ginjiro, born 18 October 1999) is a Japanese professional boxer who has held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight title as of October 2023. As of November 2023, he is ranked as the world's third best active mini-flyweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and fifth by BoxRec.

Ginjiro Shigeoka was born on 18 October 1999 in Kumamoto, Japan, where his family own a painting business. He has three siblings. His introduction to combat sports was through karate while in kindergarten. He began boxing at the Honda Fitness Boxing Gym at the age of 10, giving up karate two years later in order to focus on boxing.

As an amateur he won five national titles and compiled a record of 56–1 (17 KOs). His only loss came to his older brother, Yudai Shigeoka. The brothers were scheduled to face each other in the final of a domestic tournament but agreed not to fight, with Ginjiro's corner throwing in the towel as the bell rang to signal the start of the first round.

Early career

Shigeoka was scheduled to make his professional debut against Sanchai Yotboon on September 25, 2018. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. Shigeoka was awarded the East Japan Boxing Association September MVP award for this victory.

Shigeoka was scheduled to face Gerttipong Kumsahwat on February 26, 2019. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, needing a little over a minute and a half to finish his opponent. Shigeoka was next scheduled to fight Joel Lino on April 14, 2019. He extended his winning streak to three fights with a unanimous decision victory.

Rise up the ranks

Shigeoka was scheduled to face Clyde Azarcon for the vacant World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific Minimumweight title on July 27, 2019. He won the fight by a first-round knockout, stopping Azarcon at the 1:12 minute mark. Shigeoka made the first defense of his WBO Asia Pacific title against Rey Loreto on December 31, 2019, on the undercard of the Kazuto Ioka and Jeyvier Cintrón WBO World Super Fly title match. He won the fight by a fifth-round knockout.

Shigeoka was scheduled to make his second title defense, following a 19 month absence from the sport, against the undefeated Toshiki Kawamitsu on July 14, 2021, in his first career main event. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. Shigeoka vacated the WBO Asia Pacific minumumweight title on August 4, 2021.

Shigeoka was booked to face Tatsuro Nakashima on March 27, 2022, at the City Gym in Tomigusuku, Japan, for the vacant Japanese minimumweight title. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 99–91, 99–91 and 98–92. Shigeoka made his first title defense against the one-time Japanese mini-flyweight title challenger Naoya Haruguchi on July 7, 2022. Shigeoka had a strong start to the bout, and began to take over from the third round onward, stopping Haruguchi with a flurry of punches at the 1:48 minute mark of the fourth round. He vacated the Japanese title on July 29, 2022.

IBF interim mini-flyweight champion

Shigeoka vs. Valladares

Shigeoka was booked to challenge the reigning IBF mini flyweight titleholder Daniel Valladares. The fight was booked to take place on the undercard of the Masataka Taniguchi and Melvin Jerusalem light flyweight title bout on January 6, 2022, at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan. The fight was stopped at the 2:48 minute mark of the third round, after an accidental headbutt left the champion unable to continue competing. The fight was ruled a no contest. All three judges scored the fight an even 19–19 at the time of the stoppage. Event organizer Kōki Kameda stated during the post-fight press conference that he would try to arrange a rematch for the April of the same year.

Shigeoka vs. Cuarto

After his no-contest bout with Valladares, Shigeoka and his team sent a request for a rematch to the IBF through the Japan Boxing Commission. As Valladares was unable to make his second title defense due to an injury, the IBF instead ordered Shigeoka to face the former IBF mini-flyweight titleholder Rene Mark Cuarto for the interim championship. The bout was booked to take place on April 16, 2023, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Shigeoka twice knocked Cuatro down, once each in the seventh and ninth round, and finished the former titlist late in the ninth round. He was briefly credited with a knockdown in the fifth round as well. He was up 78–72, 78–72 and 76–74 on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

IBF mini-flyweight champion

Shigeoka vs. Valladares II

On June 30, 2023, it was announced that Shigeoka would rematch the IBF mini flyweight champion Daniel Valladares in a title consolidation bout on August 11, 2023. The championship bout was expected to headline the sixth edition of "3150FIGHT", which was scheduled to take place at the EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan. The fight was later postponed for October 7, as Shigeoka withdrew from the contest on June 27, after suffering a leg injury in training. Shigeoka won the fight by a fifth-round technical knockout.

Shigeoka vs. Amparo

Shigeoka was expected to make his maiden title defense against the one-time WBA title challenger Ar Ar Andales on March 31, 2024, at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan. Kameda Promotions were contacted by the Philippines's Games and Amusement Board on March 26, 2024, who informed them that Andales would be withdrawing from the contest due to a weight-cut induced hypoglycemia. Andales was replaced by Jake Amparo, ranked at the time as the sixth-best mini-flyweight by the IBF, who stepped in on a five-day's notice. The championship bout was streamed by Abema TV in Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Shigeoka won the fight by a second-round knockout.