Tenshin Nasukawa
Tenshin Nasukawa | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Professional boxer, kickboxer, mixed martial artist |
| Known for | RISE Bantamweight and Featherweight champion, ISKA Featherweight titles, 2017 Rizin Flyweight Kickboxing Tournament winner |
is a Japanese professional boxer who previously competed as a professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Recognized as an exceptional talent of his generation, Nasukawa has been acclaimed as one of the premier pound-for-pound kickboxers and among the finest fighters in contemporary history. He rose to prominence with knockout victories over former Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai and IBF boxing world champion Amnat Ruenroeng in 2017, along with a win against Lumpinee Stadium titleholder Wanchalong PK Saenchaigym in 2016.
Nasukawa’s professional kickboxing career spanned from 2012 through 2022, during which he captured the RISE Bantamweight (55 kg) and RISE World Featherweight (57.5 kg) titles. Additionally, he earned the ISKA Unified Rules Featherweight (57 kg) and Oriental Rules Bantamweight (55 kg) belts, and triumphed in the 2017 Rizin Flyweight (57 kg) Kickboxing Tournament. As of July 2022, Combat Press ranked him as the leading kickboxer below 58 kg and the foremost pound-for-pound fighter globally.
Amateur kickboxing career
Starting Kyokushin Karate training at age five under his father's encouragement to build confidence, Nasukawa claimed the Kaminarimon title at the Kyokushin Junior World Championship while in fifth grade before transitioning his focus to kickboxing.
He shared with Bleacher Report that "I practiced karate until sixth grade and was winning national competitions," adding, "I wanted to participate on that big stage."
His fighting approach integrates elements from Boxing, Muay Thai, and Kyokushin Karate. Fighting southpaw, he operates primarily as a counter puncher, employing acrobatic maneuvers such as spinning and rolling kicks executed with accuracy.
MMA competitor Yusaku Nakamura commended Nasukawa’s abilities after being defeated by technical knockout, highlighting Nasukawa’s impactful counter spinning drop kick that resulted in Nakamura’s broken nose.
By fifteen years old, Tenshin had amassed an amateur record of 99 wins, 5 losses, and 3 draws prior to turning professional in kickboxing.
Early career
Nasukawa made his professional debut at the centennial RISE event on July 12, 2014, where he knocked out Tomo Arimatsu with a head kick just 58 seconds into the first round. He followed this by facing Aleksandro Hideo at Rise 101 on September 28, 2014, where he scored two knockdowns leading to a stoppage victory.
On November 16, 2014 at Rise 102, Nasukawa earned his first decision win by unanimously defeating veteran Makoto Kushima. Originally set to fight BigBang super bantamweight champion Taisuke Degai at BLADE's inaugural event on December 29, 2014, Degai withdrew and was replaced by Kim Jin Min; Nasukawa secured a first-round knockout via a knee strike to the body within 100 seconds.
Nasukawa vs. Fujimoto
Ranked fourth in the RISE bantamweight division, Nasukawa faced Masahiro Fujimoto—former Shootboxing Japan super bantamweight champion—at Rise 104 on March 21, 2015. Within the opening 2 minutes and 6 seconds, he knocked Fujimoto down twice—initially with punches and knees followed by a left straight—leading to a referee stoppage. For this dominant performance without sustaining damage, Nasukawa received eFight's "Fighter of the Month" award for March. Subsequently, it was announced that he would participate in exhibition matches against all RISE KAMINARIMON amateur champions on April 5.
Nasukawa vs. Murakoshi
Following swift victories over Fujimoto that elevated his professional record to 6–0, Nasukawa issued a challenge to the reigning RISE Bantamweight champion Yuta Murakoshi at Rise 105 on May 31, 2015. Murakoshi entered the bout with a nine-fight winning streak and was defending his title for the first time. After a balanced opening round, Nasukawa forced a standing count by combining a left knee with a hook, then unleashed a series of punches that led to the referee stopping the contest. At just 16 years and 10 months old, he became the youngest champion in RISE history. This achievement earned him the eFight "Fighter of the Month" award for May.[1]
Blade Japan Cup
Only one week after securing the RISE championship, Nasukawa was announced as one of eight participants in the BLADE 2 super bantamweight tournament, scheduled for August 1, 2015, at Ōta City General Gymnasium. Promoter Genki Yamaguchi identified him as the tournament favorite.[2]
In the quarterfinal stage, Nasukawa faced DEEP KICK super bantamweight champion Masahiko Suzuki, flooring him twice within two minutes to secure an automatic technical knockout victory. He then proceeded to defeat Yukinori Ogasawara by knocking him out in the third round with a left hook. In the final match, Nasukawa confronted Shootboxing Japan 55 kg champion Taiki Naito, knocking him down three times in just 1:41 to claim a technical knockout win. This success awarded him both the tournament championship and a cash prize of ¥3,000,000.[3][4]
Nasukawa vs. Alamos, Kalistis, Miyamoto
On September 9, 2015, it was announced that Nasukawa would compete at Rise 108 on November 8, 2015. Originally slated to face former WBC Muaythai World Featherweight titleholder Hakim Hamech, Hamech withdrew and was replaced by Mike Alamos (26–6). Nasukawa secured a first-round knockout victory by dropping Alamos with a left straight followed by a finishing left knee to the body.
Subsequently, Nasukawa fought Manolis Kalistis at Rise 109 on January 31, 2016, achieving a unanimous decision win. During this bout, he scored two knockdowns—one from a left hook to the body and another after a rapid combination of punches. Nasukawa also received a yellow card in the opening round for delivering illegal knee strikes while holding Kalistis' head.
On March 12, 2016, Nasukawa faced reigning WBC Muay Thai International Super Bantamweight champion Keisuke Miyamoto in a non-title five-round match at No Kick, No Life 2016—marking his first scheduled five-round fight. He earned a knockout in the second round after stunning Miyamoto with a left straight followed by a left knee strike to the body.
Nasukawa vs. Cordeiro
At Rise 110 on March 26, 2016—just two weeks following his previous fight—Nasukawa challenged undefeated Portuguese kickboxer Frederico Cordeiro for the vacant ISKA Oriental Rules Bantamweight (55 kg) title. Nasukawa acknowledged Cordeiro as one of his most formidable adversaries. He secured victory by unanimous decision with judges scoring the bout 49–45, 49–45, and 48–46 in his favor. The contest was briefly paused in the fourth round due to an accidental clash of heads that affected Nasukawa's right eye.[5]
Nasukawa vs. Totts, Bin
On May 29, 2016, Nasukawa secured a second-round knockout victory over Tarik Totts, the Italian featherweight titleholder with a record of 14–3–1, during Rise 111. In the opening round, Nasukawa floored Totts with a left hook and concluded the contest early in the second round with a decisive body kick.
Subsequently, Nasukawa competed against Lin Bin at the collaborative Kunlun Fight 49 / Rebels 45 event held in Tokyo on August 7, 2016. Contested at a catchweight of 55.5 kg, Nasukawa achieved a knockout just 110 seconds into the first round.
Nasukawa vs. Murakoshi II
At Rise 113 in Tokyo on September 25, 2016, Nasukawa defended his RISE Bantamweight (55 kg) Championship against leading challenger Yuta Murakoshi. The two had previously clashed in May 2015 when Nasukawa captured the title via second-round technical knockout. In this rematch, Nasukawa earned a majority decision win with judges scoring 50–47, 50–45, and one draw at 50–50. Despite retaining his championship, he expressed disappointment over his cautious approach during the fight.
Nasukawa vs. Wanchalong
On September 15, 2016, it was announced that Nasukawa would participate in the inaugural KNOCK OUT event scheduled for December 5, 2016. On November 4, he was matched against Wanchalong PK.Saenchai, a two-division Lumpinee Stadium and Channel 7 Stadium champion, marking one of the most prominent bouts of his career. The following day, Nasukawa transferred from TARGET gym to TEAM TEPPEN, established by his father and coach Hiroyuki Nasukawa. On fight night, Nasukawa triumphed with a spinning back-fist knockout just 38 seconds into the first round. This performance earned him Combat Press's "Knockout of the Year" for 2016 and eFight's "Fighter of the Month" accolade for December.
Nasukawa vs. Amnat, Sheehan
Nasukawa faced Amnat Ruenroeng, a five-time defending IBF flyweight champion, at Knock Out Vol. 1 on February 12, 2017. Before an audience of 3,200 spectators, Nasukawa secured a fourth-round knockout via a left hook to the body. He was honored as "Best Fighter," and their match was named "Best Bout" of the event. Following this defeat, Amnat retired from professional fighting.
On May 20, 2017, Nasukawa successfully defended his ISKA Oriental Rules Bantamweight (55 kg) World Championship against Ryan Sheehan—holder of the ISKA Muay Thai European Bantamweight title—at RISE 117. The contest ended with Nasukawa delivering a first-round knockout through a body shot within just 72 seconds. Subsequently, K-1 World MAX veteran Kizaemon Saiga issued a challenge to Nasukawa for a contest under either kickboxing or mixed martial arts regulations.
First featherweight bouts
Nasukawa debuted in Rizin kickboxing against Kizaemon Saiga during the Rizin World Grand Prix 2017 Part 1 on July 30, 2017. This mixed-rules encounter consisted of one five-minute kickboxing round followed by one five-minute MMA round. Before an audience numbering 17,730, Nasukawa achieved a first-round knockout utilizing a left cross.
It was announced on June 20, 2017 that Nasukawa would compete at an upcoming KNOCK OUT event; he was later confirmed to face Visanlek Meibukai—a former Lumpinee Stadium flyweight and bantamweight champion—at Knock Out Vol. 4 on August 20, 2017. Nasukawa won by third-round technical knockout after a ringside physician halted the bout due to a knee strike-induced cut.
On November 23, 2017 at Rise 121’s co-main event, Nasukawa fought multiple-time World Kickboxing Network champion Ignacio Capllonch. Initially intended as a RISE Bantamweight title defense for Nasukawa, it became a catchweight non-title match after Capllonch failed to make weight by exceeding the limit by 0.8 kg. Penalized with both a point deduction and larger gloves for missing weight, Capllonch was stopped in the third round following two left hook strikes to the body delivered by Nasukawa via technical knockout.
Rizin Flyweight Tournament
At the Rizin FF Flyweight (57 kg) tournament held during the Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Final Round on December 31, 2017, Nasukawa participated and advanced to the semifinals where he faced Yuta Hamamoto. He secured victory via a flying knee knockout just two seconds before the end of the second round. In the tournament final, Nasukawa achieved a technical knockout against Yamato Fujita by knocking him down three times within 97 seconds, following Rizin’s kickboxing regulations.
Prior to defending his RISE title, Nasukawa engaged in two non-title bouts. On February 12, 2018, at Knock Out First Impact, he earned a unanimous decision win over Suakim Sit Sor Thor Taew, a three-division Lumpinee Boxing Stadium champion. Subsequently, on May 6, 2018, at Rizin 10 - Fukuoka, Nasukawa delivered a second-round technical knockout against Yusaku Nakamura.
Nasukawa vs. Rodtang
On June 17, 2018, at Rise 125 in Chiba, Nasukawa contested for the inaugural RISE Featherweight (57.5 kg) World Championship against Rodtang Jitmuangnon, a two-time recipient of the Rajadamnern Stadium "Fight of the Year" accolade. After five rounds concluded with a split decision draw, an additional round was fought where Nasukawa prevailed by unanimous decision.
The match generated controversy surrounding Nasukawa's approach, which included self-called time-outs and stalling tactics, alongside unverified allegations of groin strikes. Doubts were raised about the judges' impartiality; analyst Jack Slack described the verdict as "a hard sell," and K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii openly supported Rodtang. Despite this, eFight honored Nasukawa as their June "Fighter of the Month" following his triumph.
Nasukawa vs. Horiguchi and Naito II
On August 24, 2018, it was announced that Nasukawa would face Rizin FF bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi under kickboxing rules at Rizin FF 13 on September 30, 2018, held at Saitama Super Arena. Nasukawa secured a unanimous decision win in this bout. Later, at RISE 129 on November 17, 2018, he faced Taiki Naito in a rematch of their initial encounter in 2015 where Nasukawa had won by first-round TKO. He replicated this outcome by knocking Naito down three times within two minutes.
RISE Featherweight World Series
On January 22, 2019, RISE unveiled a World Series tournament set at 58 kg featuring a ¥10,000,000 prize for the champion and ¥2,000,000 for the runner-up. The competition unfolded across three events. In the quarterfinals at Ota City General Gymnasium on March 10, 2019, Nasukawa confronted Federico Roma—holder of World Kickboxing Network Oriental and Thai Boxing titles—and won by knockout in the third round with a cartwheel kick.
In 2019 under Rizin’s banner, Nasukawa made two appearances: first defeating Fritz Biagtan via third-round TKO at Rizin 15 - Yokohama on April 29; then capturing the vacant ISKA Featherweight (57 kg) World Championship by second-round TKO against Martin Blanco at Rizin 16 - Kobe on June 2.
Returning to RISE for the World Series semifinals on July 21, 2019, Nasukawa competed against Suakim PK Saenchaimuaythaigym—a three-weight Lumpinee Boxing Stadium champion—and won by third-round TKO due to a doctor-stopped cut caused by Nasukawa’s rolling thunder strike. Advancing to the finals on September 16, he defeated Shirō via unanimous decision to secure the tournament championship. This accomplishment earned him eFight’s September "Fighter of the Month" distinction.
Later stages of kickboxing career
On December 31, 2019, at Rizin 20 - Saitama, Nasukawa took on Rui Ebata, the reigning KNOCK OUT Super Bantamweight champion. He secured a technical knockout in the first round after flooring Ebata three times within 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
Nasukawa's next bout occurred on July 12, 2020, against Yuki Kasahara, who had only one loss at the time. This non-title match was held behind closed doors on Rise on Abema due to COVID-19 restrictions. Nasukawa achieved a first-round technical knockout following three knockdowns.
At Rizin 24 – Saitama on September 27, 2020, he claimed victory over K-1 veteran Kouzi by unanimous decision. Subsequently, on November 1 at RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Osaka, Nasukawa faced Yuki in the latter's retirement fight, dominating with four knockdowns before the referee halted the contest.
Nasukawa's fourth fight in 2020 featured WBC Muay Thai World champion Kumandoi Petcharoenvit at Rizin 26 – Saitama on December 31, where he won by unanimous decision.
On February 28, 2021, Nasukawa and Shiro met again at RISE Eldorado 2021 for a rematch. Nasukawa emerged victorious via unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the fight 30–28. Shiro had earned this rematch by winning the 2020 RISE Dead or Alive tournament. After the bout, Nasukawa revealed that he was in the final year of his contract with RISE (ending in 2022) and intended to take part in two more fights under their promotion.
In what would be his second to last fight for RISE on September 23, 2021, Nasukawa defeated Masahiko Suzuki, the RISE Bantamweight champion, by unanimous decision during the RISE World Series 2021.
Nasukawa’s concluding match with RISE took place against Kazane Nagai at RISE ELDORADO 2022 on April 2, 2022. Since both fighters belonged to TEAM TEPPEN, Nasukawa left that gym beforehand and trained at Team Target; Kazane was coached by Hiroyuki Nasukawa—Nasukawa’s father and former head trainer. The fight ended with Nasukawa winning through a majority decision with scores of 30–29, 30–29, and 29–29.
Lead-up to their encounter
Since June 2015, Nasukawa has issued challenges to Three-division K-1 champion Takeru Segawa, yet contractual disputes have consistently blocked their meeting amid the ongoing "Kickboxing Cold War" between K-1 and Rise organizations. While Takeru expressed readiness to face Nasukawa if K-1 arranged it, K-1 insisted that Nasukawa sign an exclusive contract—a demand opposed by Rise president Takashi Ito.
In 2015, a partnership formed between K-1 and MMA organization Rizin Fighting Federation, which also worked with Rise; this collaboration increased prospects for a Nasukawa–Takeru showdown. Following Nasukawa’s knockout victory over French Muay Thai competitor Mike Alamos in November of that year, he declared his intention to compete in Rizin events. Shortly thereafter, Takeru successfully defended his K-1 55 kg title and indicated willingness to fight Nasukawa within Rizin. Despite some initial misunderstandings during their face-to-face meeting, both fighters appeared receptive to arranging a bout.
Although Rizin scheduled Takeru versus Chinese fighter Yang Ming for New Year’s Eve 2015, they acknowledged public calls for a fight involving Nasukawa but cited promotional timing as an obstacle. In 2017, support for the super-fight came from Rizin executive Nobuhiko Takada and K-1 commentator Masato; however, internal conflicts remained unresolved. Takada later withdrew his public endorsement after facing criticism.
On December 31, 2017, after winning Rizin’s Kickboxing 57 kg tournament, Nasukawa publicly challenged Takeru and engaged the crowd to demand the match—applying strategic pressure aimed at ending the organizational stalemate.
In February 2018, M-1 Sports Media (the operator of K-1) filed a lawsuit seeking ¥137 million against Nasukawa, his management team, and Rizin officials for alleged unfair business practices involving Takeru’s name and citing sponsor revenue losses; however, some sponsors questioned the legitimacy of these claims.
By March of that year, Rise president Takashi Ito and former K-1 fighter Hiroya criticized K-1’s exclusive contracts as potentially violating competition law. Hiroya’s legal counsel pointed out that contract clauses extending duration with each fight and restricting fighters from competing elsewhere effectively prevented Takeru from facing Nasukawa despite Takeru’s personal willingness to do so.
Nasukawa vs. Takeru
On December 24, 2021, Rizin FF president Nobuyuki Sakakibara revealed plans for the Nasukawa versus Takeru bout to take place in June at a neutral location, organized jointly with K-1 and RISE. The fighters were required to officially weigh in at 58 kg, with a maximum limit of 62 kg allowed on the day of the fight. At the time of scheduling, Nasukawa and Takeru were widely regarded as the two leading kickboxers globally after Superbon Banchamek. On April 1, 2022, the date and venue were finalized: June 19 at the Tokyo Dome, marking kickboxing’s first event at the venue since 2006.
The contest consisted of three rounds of three minutes each under RISE rules, with an additional round if necessary. The fight was streamed via pay per view on Abema TV. Although Fuji TV initially intended to broadcast the main event, they withdrew due to controversies involving RIZIN president Sakakibara's alleged ties to the yakuza.
Held before a sellout audience of 56,399 spectators at Tokyo Dome, Nasukawa secured a unanimous decision victory. He delivered a pivotal knockdown early in the first round with a left hook counter, which influenced all five judges’ scorecards (29–28, 30–28, 30–28, 30–28, and 30–27). The event reportedly achieved around 500,000 PPV purchases. During the post-fight press conference, Nasukawa declared his retirement from kickboxing to pursue a career in boxing.
Mixed martial arts career
Following his Muay Thai debut on December 5, 2016, Japanese MMA organization Rizin Fighting Federation offered Nasukawa an MMA debut scheduled for December 29. Accepting on short notice, he trained in MMA for the first time and won by first-round TKO. He returned to fight at Rizin’s New Year’s Eve event two days later, submitting Dylan Kawika Oligo with a guillotine choke in round two.
In 2017, Nasukawa officially signed with Rizin. That same year, MMA agent Shu Hirata—who manages UFC fighters Francis Ngannou and Takeya Mizugaki—disclosed that UFC had extended a $60,000 contract offer to Nasukawa ($30,000 base salary plus $30,000 win bonus).
In January 2018, Nasukawa told Sports Graphic that he planned to concentrate on kickboxing until he reached about 22 or 23 years old before contemplating transitions into MMA or professional boxing.
On August 15, 2018, sponsorship by Evolve MMA was announced for Nasukawa. Chatri Sityodtong, founder and CEO of Evolve MMA and ONE Championship, expressed interest in signing Nasukawa once his commitment with Rizin concludes.
Initial contract offers
Renowned promoter and International Boxing Hall of Famer Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions Inc. has pursued Nasukawa since he was twelve years old. At age fourteen, Nasukawa declined an offer that included a signing bonus exceeding $100,000 to focus instead on kickboxing. Teiken Promotions remains interested in him, with trainer Yūichi Kasai—who has developed four world champions—serving as Nasukawa’s part-time boxing coach.
Nasukawa intends to compete simultaneously in both kickboxing and boxing; however, the Japan Boxing Commission forbids Japanese professional boxers from participating in other professional combat sports within Japan. In 2018, he indicated a desire to pursue boxing opportunities overseas while continuing kickboxing domestically.
Hideyuki Ohashi—former two-time world champion and trainer/promoter of three-division world boxing champion Naoya Inoue—believes Nasukawa has potential to capture a boxing world title early in his career and surpass records held by Vasyl Lomachenko and Saensak Muangsurin. Ohashi has also expressed interest in arranging a match between Inoue and Nasukawa at Tokyo Dome.
Additionally, Nasukawa received an invitation to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics but hesitated due to possible encounters with friends such as AIBA Youth World Champion Hayato Tsutsumi.
Nasukawa vs. Yonaha
On February 9, 2023, Nasukawa successfully passed his professional boxing license examination, achieving a score of 97 out of 100 on the written portion and completing the physical and sparring evaluations at featherweight (58 kg). He was the only candidate assessed that day, in front of an audience approaching 100 attendees.
Following the acquisition of his B-class license from the Japanese Boxing Commission, which permits participation in six-round matches, Nasukawa made his professional debut against Yuki Yonaha—who held the fourth rank among bantamweights by the JBC—on April 8, 2023. The bout was broadcast via Amazon Prime at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Nasukawa secured a unanimous decision victory, with two judges awarding him every round and the third scoring it 59–54. He achieved the fight’s sole knockdown in the second round through a well-timed counter right hook.
Nasukawa vs. Guzman
Nasukawa’s sophomore professional fight was originally scheduled against undefeated Juan Flores Aceves on September 18, 2023, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. This event was part of the undercard for the unified light-flyweight title clash between Kenshiro Teraji and Hekkie Budler. However, Aceves withdrew on September 2 due to contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by Luis Guzman with only two weeks’ notice. Nasukawa triumphed by unanimous decision (80–72), scoring knockdowns in both the second and seventh rounds. He later revealed that he had sustained a left hand injury during the fourth round against Aceves, with recovery complicated by carpal instability.
Nasukawa vs. Robles
On January 23, 2024, Nasukawa faced Luis Robles—ranked 14th in the WBA bantamweight division—at Edion Arena Osaka during the Teraji-Cañizales WBA-WBC light flyweight title event. Nasukawa earned a technical knockout victory after the third round when Robles was unable to continue due to an ankle injury.
Nasukawa vs. Rodriguez
Set for July 20, 2024, at Tokyo’s Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Nasukawa competed against Jonathan "Torres" Rodriguez in a 10-round bantamweight contest. Nasukawa emerged victorious by TKO at 1:49 into the third round in this non-title encounter.
Nasukawa vs. Asilo
On October 14, 2024, Nasukawa battled Gerwin Asilo at Ariake Arena in Tokyo for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight championship. He won by unanimous decision with two judges scoring it 98-91 and one judge 97-92. Asilo was sent to the canvas during the ninth round. Over an 18-month span, Nasukawa, aged 26, amassed five consecutive wins, including two stoppages.
Nasukawa vs. Moloney
On February 24, 2025, Nasukawa took on former world champion Jason Moloney at Ariake Arena in Tokyo as part of a prominent card headlined by Junto Nakatani defending his WBC bantamweight crown. Nasukawa secured a unanimous decision victory with judges’ scorecards reading 98-92 and twice at 97-93.
Nasukawa vs. Santillan
At Ariake Colosseum, Nasukawa defeated Victor Santillan in a 10-round bantamweight co-main event supporting Nakatani versus Ryosuke Nishida. He won via unanimous decision with scores of 99-91 (twice) and a clean sweep of 100-90 from one judge, bringing him closer to a potential world title shot at 118 pounds.
Nasukawa vs. Mayweather
On November 5, 2018, it was announced that Nasukawa would face undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Rizin 14 on December 31, 2018; initially, the rules were not clearly defined. Mayweather later denied consenting to an official fight, describing it as a private exhibition for select guests and not intended for broadcast. Nonetheless, on November 16, Mayweather confirmed that a three-round exhibition boxing match would proceed with strict enforcement against MMA-style techniques.
During their encounter, Nasukawa landed the opening punch but was swiftly floored by a left hook behind the ear delivered by Mayweather. Within just over two minutes (140 seconds), Nasukawa was knocked down three times in the first round, leading his corner to halt the contest. This widely publicized exhibition highlighted Nasukawa’s crossover appeal while emphasizing the skill gap against a boxing legend of Mayweather’s caliber.
Nasukawa vs. Gomi
On December 31, 2021, at Rizin 33 - Saitama, Nasukawa competed against Takanori Gomi in a two-round exhibition boxing match. The contest concluded without a decision as the allotted time expired without a stoppage.
Fighting style
Nasukawa fights from a southpaw stance, blending elements of kickboxing with full contact karate, both of which he has trained in since childhood. He predominantly employs a counter-striking approach, maintaining distance around the ring’s edge and delivering precise strikes as his opponents move forward. His style is distinguished by the integration of dynamic maneuvers such as spinning kicks and jumping knees, executed with remarkable accuracy and efficiency.
Kickboxing
Professional
- International Sport Karate Association
- 2015 ISKA Oriental Rules Bantamweight (55 kg) World Champion
- Successfully defended the title once
- 2019 ISKA Unified Rules Featherweight (57 kg) World Champion
- 2015 ISKA Oriental Rules Bantamweight (55 kg) World Champion
- RISE
- 2015 RISE Bantamweight (55 kg) Champion
- One successful defense of the title
- 2015 BLADE Japan Cup (55 kg) Tournament Winner
- 2018 RISE Featherweight (57 kg) World Champion
- 2019 RISE World Series -58 kg Tournament Champion
- 2015 RISE Bantamweight (55 kg) Champion
- Rizin
- 2017 Rizin Flyweight (57 kg) Kickboxing Tournament Champion
Amateur
- RISE
- 2009 Kaminarimon -35 kg Champion
- 2010 Kaminarimon -40 kg Champion
- Muay Lok
- 2010 Muay Lok -35 kg Champion
- M-1
- 2010 M-1 Junior -40 kg Champion (two successful defenses)
- 2011 M-1 Junior -45 kg Champion (two successful defenses)
- 2012 M-1 Junior -50 kg Champion
- Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Federation
- 2011 MA Kick Junior -42 kg Champion (two defenses)
- Big Bang
- 2012 Bigbang -50 kg Champion
- All Japan Jr. Kick
- 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick -50 kg Champion
- 2013 All Japan Jr. Kick -55 kg Champion
Karate
- Shin Karate
- 2010 Shin Karate All Japan K-4 Grand Prix Winner
- 2013 Shin Karate All Japan G-3 Grand Prix Winner
- Shinyokushinkai
- 2009 Shinyokushinkai All Japan Youth (U-10) -40 kg Champion
- 2011 Shinkyokushinkai Karate Dream Cup Lightweight 3rd Place
Awards
- CombatPress.com
- Knockout of the Year (2016)
- Male Fighter of the Year (2019)
- Liverkick.com
- Prospect of the Year (2016)
- Beyond Kickboxing
- Fighter of the Year (2022)
- eFight.jp
- Fighter of the Month on eight occasions (March, May, August 2015; December 2016; February, June, September 2018; June 2022)
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Template:Yes2Win | 7–0 | Victor Santillan | UD | 10 | Jun 8, 2025 | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 6 | Template:Yes2Win | 6–0 | Jason Moloney | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 2025 | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 5 | Template:Yes2Win | 5–0 | Gerwin Asilo | UD | 10 | Oct 14, 2024 | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan | Captured vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title |
| 4 | Template:Yes2Win | 4–0 | Jonathan Rodriguez | TKO | 3 (12), 1:49 | Jul 20, 2024 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 3 | Template:Yes2Win | 3–0 | Luis Robles | RTD | 3 (8), 3:00 | Jan 23, 2024 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 2 | Template:Yes2Win | 2–0 | Luis Guzman | UD | 8 | Sep 18, 2023 | Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 1 | Template:Yes2Win | "1–0" | "Yuki Yonaha" | "UD" | "6" | "Apr 8, 2023" | "Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan" | "" |
Mixed martial arts record
|-
| Victory | align=center |4–0 | Yamato Fujita | Unanimous decision | 2017 in Rizin Fighting Federation#Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: Opening Round - Part 2 | | align=center |3 | align=center |5:00 | Fukuoka, Japan |
|-
| Victory | align=center |3–0 | Francesco Ghigliotti | KO (head kick and punches) | 2017 in Rizin Fighting Federation#Rizin 2017 in Yokohama: Sakura | | align=center |1 | align=center |1:07 | Yokohama, Japan |
|-
| Victory | align=center |2–0 | Dylan Kawika Oligo | Submission (guillotine choke) | 2016 in Rizin Fighting Federation#Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round | | align=center |2 | align=center |0:37 | Tokyo, Japan |
|-
| Victory | align=center |1–0 | Nikita Sapun | TKO (punches) | 2016 in Rizin Fighting Federation#Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round | | align=center |1 | align=center |2:47
Tokyo, Japan Flyweight division debut |-
Kickboxing record
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2022-06-19|| Victory ||align=left||| THE MATCH 2022 || Tokyo, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2022-04-02|| Victory ||align=left||| RISE ELDORADO 2022 || Tokyo, Japan || Majority decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2021-09-23|| Victory ||align=left||| RISE WORLD SERIES 2021 Yokohama || Yokohama, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2021-02-28|| Victory ||align=left||| RISE ELDORADO 2021 || Yokohama, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2020-12-31|| Victory ||align=left||| Rizin 26 – Saitama || Saitama, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2020-11-01|| Victory|| align=left||| RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Osaka || Osaka, Japan || TKO (Three knockdowns/Flying knee) || 2 || 2:56 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2020-09-27|| Victory || align=left||| Rizin 24 – Saitama || Saitama, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2020-07-12|| Victory || align=left||| Rise on Abema|| Tokyo, Japan || TKO (Three knockdowns/Punches) || 1 || 1:30 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-12-31|| Victory || align=left||| Rizin 20 - Saitama || Saitama, Japan || TKO (Three knockdowns) || 1 || 2:44 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-09-16|| Victory || align=left||| Rise World Series -58 kg Tournament Final || Chiba, Japan || Unanimous decision || 3 || 3:00 |- ! colspan=9 style="background:white;" | Secured the RISE World Series -58kg Tournament championship. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-07-21|| Victory || align="left"||| Rise World Series -58 kg Tournament Semi Final || Osaka, Japan || TKO (Doctor stoppage/Rolling thunder) || 3 || 1:25 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-06-02|| Victory || align="left"||| Rizin 16 - Kobe|| Kobe, Japan|| TKO (Three knockdowns) || 2 ||5:19 |- ! colspan=9 style="background:white;" | Captured the vacant ISKA Featherweight (57 kg) World Championship. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-04-29|| Victory || align="left"||| Rizin 15 - Yokohama|| Yokohama, Japan|| TKO (Three knockdowns) ||3||1:25 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2019-03-10|| Victory || align="left"||| Rise World Series -58 kg Quarter Final|| Tokyo, Japan|| KO (Cartwheel kick)||3||1:35 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2018-11-17|| Victory || align="left"||| RISE129|| Saitama, Japan|| TKO (Three knockdowns)||1||1:58 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2018-09-30|| Victory || align=left||| Rizin FF13|| Saitama, Japan|| Unanimous decision||3||3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2018-06-17|| Victory || align=left||| RISE125|| Chiba, Japan|| Extra round unanimous decision||6||3:00 |- ! colspan=9 style="background:white;" | Earned the inaugural RISE Featherweight (57.5 kg) World Championship. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2018-05-06|| Victory || align=left||| Rizin FF10|| Fukuoka, Japan|| TKO (Referee stoppage)||2||4:42 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2018-02-12|| Victory || align=left||| KNOCK OUT First Impact||| Tokyo, Japan||| Unanimous decision||5|||3:00 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2017-12-31|| Victory || align=left||| Rizin World Grand Prix Final Round Tournament Final|||| Saitama, Japan|||| TKO (Three knockdowns)||1|||1:27 |- ! colspan=9 style="background:white;" | Achieved the title of the 2017 Rizin Flyweight Kickboxing Tournament champion. |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2017-12-31|| Victory||||Rizin World Grand Prix Final Round Tournament Semifinal||||Saitama|||| KO (Flying knee)||2|||4:58 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" ||2017-11-23|| Victory||||RISE121||||Tokyo|||| TKO (punches)||3|||1:15 |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |}
Amateur record
| 2013-10-13 | Victory | Shinnosuke Nakamura | BigBang Amateur 17, Final | Tokyo, Japan | N/A | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2013-10-13 | Victory | Kazutaka Sasazaki | BigBang Amateur 17, Semi Final | Tokyo, Japan | N/A | 2 | 2:00 | |
| 2013-03-31 | Victory | Ryoga Hirano | 2013 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament, Final | Tokyo, Japan | KO (punches) | 1 | 0:42 | |
| 2013-03-31 | Victory | Taio Asahisa | 2013 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament, Semi Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 2:00 | |
| 2013-03-31 | Victory | Kyoto Takahashi | 2013 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament, Quarter Final | Tokyo, Japan | TKO | 2 | N/A | |
| 2013-02-16 | Draw | Eisaku Ogasawara | Kichijoji Fight Club | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-12-02 | Victory | Kaogam Sor Tantip | RISE/M-1 MC ～INFINITY～ | Tokyo, Japan | KO (punches) | 1 | 0:42 | |
| 2012-11-11 | Victory | Hiroto Ishizuka | Bigbang the future V | Tokyo, Japan | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2012-10-21 | Victory | Rasta Kido | Muay Lok 2012 3rd | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-09-09 | Victory | Yoshiki Tane | M-1 Challenge Sutt Yod Muaythai vol.3 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (referee stop/left hook) | 2 | 0:08 | |
| 2012-09-02 | Victory | Yugo Tsuboi | BigBang 10 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-08-26 | Victory | Teruyo Sasaki | M-1 Muay Thai Challenge Amateur | Chiba, Japan | Decision | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-07-22 | Victory | Teruyo Sasaki | M-1 Muay Thai Challenge Amateur Tournament, Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-07-22 | Victory | Daigo Sunaga | M-1 Muay Thai Challenge Amateur Tournament, Semi Final | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-07-16 | Victory | Yuzuki Sakai | BigBang Amateur 7 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 1:30 | |
| 2012-07-16 | Victory | Kota Nakano | BigBang Amateur 7 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 2 | 1:30 | |
| 2012-06-03 | Victory | Haruma Saikyo | BigBang | Tokyo, Japan | Decision | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-05-27 | Defeat | Junya Weerasakreck | M-1 Muay Thai Challenge Amateur | Japan | Decision | 3 | 2:00 | |
| 2012-04-22 | Kenta Yoshinaga && M-1 Amateur Event && Tokyo, Japan && Decision && N/A && N/A | |||||||
| Kaito Hayashi&& 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament, Final&&Tokyo, Japan&& TKO&& 2&& N/A | ||||||||
| N/A && 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament, Semi Final &&Tokyo, Japan &&Decision && 2 && 2:00 |-style = "background : #cfc;" | Taio Asahisa && 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick Tournament , Quarter Final &&Tokyo ,Japan &&Decision && 2 && 2 :00 |-style = " background : # cfc ; " | Yugo Tsuboi && 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick Kanto Area Selection Tournament , Final &&Tokyo ,Japan &&Decision && 3 && 2 :00 |-style = " background : # cfc ; " | Junya Weerasakreck && 2012 All Japan Jr. Kick Kanto Area Selection Tournament , Semi Final && Tokyo ,Japan &&
Decision && N/A && N/A | |||||
Exhibition kickboxing record
| Date | Outcome | Adversary | Event | Venue | Decision method | Round | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-05-26 | Victory | Template:Country data JPNTemplate:Namespace detect showall Keisuke Monguchi | ABEMA TV "VS Tenshin Nasukawa" | Tokyo, Japan | Unanimous decision | 3 | 2:00 |
Exhibition boxing record
| No. | Outcome | Record at time | Opponent | Match type | Round and time | Date | Location | Additional information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Template:N/A | 0–1 (5) | Takanori Gomi | Template:N/A | 2 | Dec 31, 2021 | Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan | ||
| 5 | Template:N/A | 0–1 (4) | Koki Osaki Hiroya Hideo Tokoro |
Template:N/A | 3 | June 13, 2021 | Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan | Each opponent competed for one round. Special standing bout under boxing rules permitting superman punches and spinning back fists | |
| 4 | Template:N/A | 0–1 (3) | Koki Kameda | Template:N/A | 3 | June 22, 2019 | |||
| 3 | Template:N/A | 0–1 (2) | Yoshiki Fujisaki | Template:N/A | 3 | May 18, 2019 | |||
| 2 | Template:N/A | 0–1 (1) | Tepparith Kokietgym | Template:N/A | 3 | May 18, 2019 | |||
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | 'TKO' | '1 (3), 2:20' | 'Dec 31, 2018' | 'Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan' |
Pay-per-view bouts
| No. | Date | Match | Event name | Purchases | Broadcast | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "19 June 2022" | "Nasukawa vs. Takeru" | "'THE MATCH 2022'" | "500,000" | "Abema" | " $25 million " |
See also
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBlade Cup - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSeptember 2018 MVP - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedISKA Bantam title
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