Former three-division champion Akira Yaegashi retires at 37

[Ruthless-RKO]

Akira Yaegashi retires at 37

Former minimumweight, light flyweight, and light flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi has announced his retirement, ending a 15-year career that saw him face some of the best the lower weight classes had to offer.

Two years after welcoming a young Srisaket Sor Rungvisai to the paid ranks with a TKO finish, Yaegashi claimed his first world title by knocking out Pornsawan Porpramook for the WBA minimumweight belt. After losing it to a rising Kazuto Ioka, he jumped two weight classes to flyweight, where he secured the WBC belt by beating countryman Toshiyuki Igarashi.

He would defend that belt three times, including a decision over Edgar Sosa, before unsuccessfully slugging it out with Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

His first bid at light flyweight gold ended poorly courtesy of Pedro Guevara, who remains a top fighter to this day, but a decision over Javier Mendoza three fights later secured the IBF title, which he would defend twice. Milan Melindo put an end to that reign in 2017, and after one last terrific battle with Moruti Mthalane last December, Yaegashi ends his career 28-7 (16 KO).

According to Asian Boxing, Yaegashi will “be continuing to work at a restaurant that he owns, as well as working for Fuji TV and working at the Ohashi Gym as a trainer, something he has been seen doing recently for talented prospect Ryutaro Nakagaki (1-0, 1).” It looks like he’s all set for the next stage of his life, and we here at Bad Left Hook want to thank him for all the great fights he’s given us. Safe travels, champ.