is a Japanese former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

who competed from 2003 to 2018. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the

WBC WBC may stand for: Business *Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS *Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company *Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...

featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, this ...

title in 2009 and the WBC

super-featherweight Super featherweight, also known as junior lightweight, is a weight division in professional boxing, contested between and . The super featherweight division was established by the New York Walker Law in 1920, although first founded by the New Yo ...

title from 2010 to 2012.

Professional career

Ao turned professional in September 2003 at the

Korakuen Hall is a famous sports arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many notable boxing, professional wrestling, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and Lethwei matches. History On April 16, 1962, the Korakuen Hall was officially opened with ...

, Tokyo. In his debut Ao defeated fellow Japanese boxer Hiroshi Kashihara with a second round

knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...

. Ao is managed by the

Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo, a Japan's traditional boxing club whose genesis dates back to 1926, manages professional boxers as a member of the , a subsidiary body of . Currently located in Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, its president is the International Boxing Hall of Fa ...

in Tokyo, and trains under

Sendai Tanaka is a Japanese boxing trainer. He is one of the few outstanding trainers from Asia, and has a reputation especially for his focus mitts training. Early career Tanaka was born in Yamoto, Miyagi (current Yamoto, Higashimatsushima, Miyagi), Japan. A ...

's guidance. He has often attended

Marco Antonio Barrera Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia (born January 17, 1974) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2011. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the WBO junior featherweight title twice betwe ...

's training camp since 2003, because he was appreciated for his speed and heavy fists, and served as Barrera's chief sparring partner in August 2007. After thirteen unbeaten fights, Ao beat Koji Umetsu for the Japanese featherweight title in March 2007. Ao lost via split decision to champion

Óscar Larios Óscar Larios (born 1 November 1976) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2009. He is a weight class (boxing), world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council, WBC super bantamweight title f ...

on 16 October 2008. Despite flooring Larios in the 4th round, Ao managed to lose a decision in the close and contested bout. Fortunate for him, Ao got another chance at Larios' title on 12 March 2009. There, he applied more offensive tactics which resulted Larios dropping in the 12th round. Ao won the match by unanimous decision. On his first defense of the title held on July 14 that same year, Ao lost to

Elio Rojas Elio Enai Rojas (born September 25, 1982) is a Dominican Republican professional boxer. Amateur Highlights 1999- Gold Medal in the Battle of Carabobo and Cheo Aponte Tournament. Elio Rojas solidified his status as a World Class Boxer in 2000 b ...

by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ao, Takahiro 1984 births Living people Japanese male boxers World featherweight boxing champions World super-featherweight boxing champions World Boxing Council champions People from Ichihara, Chiba Sportspeople from Chiba Prefecture

Professional career

Professional boxing record

See also

References

External links