Riku Morisaka

Riku Morisaka (Japanese: 森坂 陸, Morisaka Riku, born April 15, 1998) is a retired Japanese kickboxer, who fought out of Tokyo, Japan. He is a former Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) champion.

Beyond Kick ranked him as the ninth best -58 kg kickboxer in the world between April and July 2023.

Super bantamweight

Morisaka made his professional debut against Takumi at Syuken 27 on October 25, 2015. He won the fight by unanimous decision and amassed a 4–3–1 record over the next two years, before being placed in the KHAOS super bantamweight tournament, which was scheduled to take place at KHAOS 2 on July 8, 2017. Although Morisaka was able to overcome the future Krush and K-1 featherweight champion Yuki Egawa by split decision in the semifinals of the one-day tournament, he lost the final bout against Shota Oiwa by unanimous decision. It was his second career loss at the hands of Oiwa, as he had previously beaten him by unanimous decision at Syuken 30 on February 11, 2016.

On May 26, 2018, Morisaka faced another future K-1 featherweight champion in Tatsuya Tsubakihara at KHAOS 5. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Four mnoths later, at Krush 93 on September 30, 2018, Morisaka was booked to face Taito Gunji in the quarterfinals of the Krush Super Bantamweight tournament. He lost the fight by majority decision, with two of the judges scoring the fight 30-28 for Gunji, while the third judge scored it 30-30.

Featherweight

Move up in weight

Morisaka took part in the one-day Krush featherweight tournament, held to fill the vacant throne, at Krush 119 on November 27, 2019. He faced Keito Okajima in the semifinals and won the fight by a third-round technical knockout, knocking Okajima down twice by the 2:58 minute mark of the round. In the tournament final Morisaka faced Takahito Niimi. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds were fought, with two of the judges scoring the bout as a draw (29-29 and 30-30), while the third judge scored it 30–29 in Niimi's favor. Accordingly, an extension rounds was fought, after which Niimi won a unanimous decision.

Morisaka was scheduled to rematch Taito Gunji at K-1: K'Festa 4 Day 1 on March 21, 2021. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30-26 and 30–26.

Morisaka faced Toma Tanabe at K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka on December 4, 2021. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Morisaka faced Haruma Saikyo at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022, in what was Saikyo's return to professional competition following a close to three-year absence from the sport. He won the fight by split decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.

Morisaka faced the once-defeated Rei Inagaki at Krush 144 on December 18, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 30–29 scorecard.

Krush champion

Morisaka challenged Shuhei Kumura for his Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) title at Krush 147 on March 25, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 29–28. Morisaka knocked his opponent down with a spinning backfist in the opening round of the contest.

Morisaka faced the former K-1 featherweight champion Tatsuya Tsubakihara at K-1 World GP 2023 in Yokohama on June 3, 2023. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 30–29.

Morisaka made his first Krush Featherweight title defense against Tatsuki Shinotsuka at Krush 154 on October 21, 2023. He lost the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29.

He announced his retirement from the sport of kickboxing on October 28, 2023.

• KHAOS
  • 2017 KHAOS Super Bantamweight Tournament Runner-up
• Krush
  • 2020 Krush Featherweight (-57.5 kg) Tournament Runner-up
  • 2023 Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) Champion
  • 2023 Fight of the Year