Sora and Shogo Tanaka turn professional with Ohashi Gym
Earlier today it was announced that two more former amateur standouts had turned professional, and signed with the Ohashi Gym. This time it was the turn of 22 year old hopefuls Sora Tanaka [田中空] and Shogo Tanaka [田中将吾], who will debut as Ohashi Gym fighters later this year and look to build on very impressive amateur careers.
The two, who share a surname, aren't related by blood, but have known each other since they were kids and even went to the same University, and have often been at the same competitions and tournaments.
Sora Tanaka, dubbed "Tyson of Yokohama", went 60-5 (21) in the unpaid ranks, winning national tournaments at the National High School and National Athletic Meet, as well as an All Japan title and a Bronze medal at the 2022 World University Championships. He'll be trained by his father, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, himself a former fighter, and he's actually a third generation boxer. He has been boxing since he was 3, and trained at the Ohashi gym back when he was 6. The nickname, "Tyson of Yokohama", is due to his lack of height, as he stands at 165cm (5'5"), and fights as a Welterweight. Notably he has sparred, multiple times, with the most notable current Japanese fighter at the weight, Jin Sasaki, and it seems clear that he has big ambitions in the pros. Like Tyson, Sora Tanaka likes to fight in the pocket, getting inside and landing heavy, hurtful, hard blows.
Shogo Tanaka, originally from Osaka, started his fighting career as a kick boxer, before switching to boxing in Junior High School and he really impressed in the amateurs, going 58-9 (48), winning National High School, National Athletic Meet and All Japanese titles in the unpaid ranks. As a professional he'll be starting his career at Flyweight and is doing so under the watchful eye of former world champion Akira Yaegashi. He explained that that he wants to win Asia and Japanese titles before going on to become a world champion.
The two Tanaka's will take part in their pro-tests later this month, with the plan being for both to debut in 6 rounders in June.
(Image courtesy fo boxingnews.jp)
The two, who share a surname, aren't related by blood, but have known each other since they were kids and even went to the same University, and have often been at the same competitions and tournaments.
Sora Tanaka, dubbed "Tyson of Yokohama", went 60-5 (21) in the unpaid ranks, winning national tournaments at the National High School and National Athletic Meet, as well as an All Japan title and a Bronze medal at the 2022 World University Championships. He'll be trained by his father, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, himself a former fighter, and he's actually a third generation boxer. He has been boxing since he was 3, and trained at the Ohashi gym back when he was 6. The nickname, "Tyson of Yokohama", is due to his lack of height, as he stands at 165cm (5'5"), and fights as a Welterweight. Notably he has sparred, multiple times, with the most notable current Japanese fighter at the weight, Jin Sasaki, and it seems clear that he has big ambitions in the pros. Like Tyson, Sora Tanaka likes to fight in the pocket, getting inside and landing heavy, hurtful, hard blows.
Shogo Tanaka, originally from Osaka, started his fighting career as a kick boxer, before switching to boxing in Junior High School and he really impressed in the amateurs, going 58-9 (48), winning National High School, National Athletic Meet and All Japanese titles in the unpaid ranks. As a professional he'll be starting his career at Flyweight and is doing so under the watchful eye of former world champion Akira Yaegashi. He explained that that he wants to win Asia and Japanese titles before going on to become a world champion.
The two Tanaka's will take part in their pro-tests later this month, with the plan being for both to debut in 6 rounders in June.
(Image courtesy fo boxingnews.jp)