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Japan Daisuke Naito is a former WBC and lineal flyweight boxing champion known for his determined career progression and four-time championship fights against rival Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.
Takao Yasuda, the founder of Don Don Donki, was a sponsor of former professional boxer Daisuke Naito. Yasuda was also the Vice-chairman of the now-defunct Japanese Mixed Martial Arts organization.
Daisuke Naito, born on August 30, 1974, in Toyoura, Hokkaido, Japan, embarked on his professional boxing career in October 1996. Competing in the flyweight division, he quickly established an undefeated record in his early fights. His pursuit of championship titles began in 2001, when he faced Takefumi Sakata for the Japanese flyweight title, resulting in a 10-round draw. Naito’s first world title opportunity came in 2002 against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the WBC and lineal flyweight titles in Thailand, where he experienced a first-round knockout loss, marking the fastest knockout in a world flyweight title match at 34 seconds.
Undeterred, Naito continued his career, achieving significant milestones domestically. In June 2004, he secured the Japanese flyweight title, which he successfully defended the same year with a 24-second first-round knockout, setting another record for the shortest Japanese flyweight title match. He defended this title twice before vacating it. Naito challenged Wonjongkam again in October 2005 for the WBC flyweight title, losing by decision after a seventh-round injury stoppage. He regained the Japanese flyweight title in February 2006 and further added the OPBF flyweight title in June 2006 through a 6th-round TKO. After one successful defense, he vacated the OPBF title in February 2007.
A pivotal moment arrived on July 18, 2007, when Naito faced Pongsaklek Wonjongkam for the third time, securing a 12-round unanimous decision victory to become the WBC and lineal flyweight champion, five years after his initial world title attempt. He defended his titles against Daiki Kameda on October 11, 2007, winning by unanimous decision despite consistent fouling from Kameda. The win propelled Naito to celebrity status in Japan. He drew against Wonjongkam in his second defense in March 2008 and achieved a 10th-round knockout against Tomonobu Shimizu in July 2008. His fourth defense saw him stop Shingo Yamaguchi in the 11th round in December 2008, followed by a unanimous decision win against Xiong Zhao Zhong in May 2009. Naito lost his WBC and lineal flyweight titles to Koki Kameda on November 29, 2009, by unanimous decision. He retired from boxing in November 2011, subsequently transitioning into roles as a boxing commentator and tarento.
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