Akihiro Kaneko is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the super bantamweight division of K-1.
48 Facts About Akihiro Kaneko
1.
2.
Akihiro Kaneko was ranked in the strawweight top ten by Combat Press between May 2019 and August 2020.
3.
Akihiro Kaneko made his professional debut against Fumiya Hata at Krush 69 on September 30,2016.
4.
Akihiro Kaneko won the fight by a third-round knockout, flooring Hata with a knee to the body, which left him unable to beat the ten count.
5.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to fight Koki at Krush 72 on January 15,2017.
6.
Akihiro Kaneko dropped Koki with a short left hook early in the third round, before finishing him with a second left hook at the 2:00 minute mark of the last round.
7.
Akihiro Kaneko faced Naoya Otada at Krush 75 on April 2,2017.
8.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to face Naota Yamada at Krush 77 on July 16,2017.
9.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to challenge the reigning Krush Bantamweight champion Taito Gunji in the co-main event of Krush 89 on June 30,2018.
10.
Akihiro Kaneko made his first title defense against the WPMF bantamweight champion Junya Weerasakreck at Krush 94 on October 28,2018.
11.
Akihiro Kaneko won the fight by a second-round knockout, dropping Junya with a well placed knee to the body.
12.
On December 18,2018, Akihiro Kaneko vacated the title, as he moved up in weight to super bantamweight.
13.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to fight Shuhei Kumura at K-1's flagship event K'FESTA 2 on March 10,2019.
14.
Akihiro Kaneko had knocked Kumura down once in the second round, but was himself knocked down twice in the second round as well.
15.
Akihiro Kaneko faced Yuta Hayashi at Krush 104 on August 31,2019.
16.
Akihiro Kaneko fought the reigning Krush Super Bantamweight champion Masashi Kumura at K-1 World GP 2020: K'Festa 3 on March 22,2020.
17.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to fight Momotaro Kiyama at K-1 World GP 2021: K'Festa 4 Day.
18.
Akihiro Kaneko knocked Kiyama down in the third minute of the round, after which Kiyama's corner threw in the towel.
19.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to face the former Krush Bantamweight champion Koki at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20,2021.
20.
Akihiro Kaneko completely dominated the bout, successfully dropping Koki three times by the 2:35 minute mark the first round.
21.
On February 27,2022, K-1 announced that Akihiro Kaneko would be one of eight participants in the 2022 Super Bantamweight World Grand Prix, which was held at K-1 World GP 2022 Japan on February 27,2022.
22.
Akihiro Kaneko first knocked Kuroda down with a counter left hook early in the last round of the bout, before knocking him out with a right straight at the 2:17 minute mark of the third round.
23.
Akihiro Kaneko was awarded the automatic technical knockout victory, after knocking Riamu down twice by the 2:23 minute mark.
24.
Akihiro Kaneko first knocked Riamu down with a short left hook, before knocking him down a second time with a low kick.
25.
Akihiro Kaneko faced Masashi Kumura in the finals of the one-day tournament.
26.
Akihiro Kaneko was more successful in the rematch, winning the fight by majority decision.
27.
Akihiro Kaneko knocked Kumura down with a combination of punches in the second round, which proved the pivotal moment of the fight, as it edged the scorecards in his favor.
28.
Akihiro Kaneko was booked to face the reigning RISE Bantamweight champion Masahiko Suzuki in a non-title bout on June 19,2022.
29.
Akihiro Kaneko failed to successfully implement his patented pressure game and lost the fight by majority decision.
30.
Akihiro Kaneko faced Jordan Swinton, the first foreign opponent of his professional career, at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11,2022.
31.
Akihiro Kaneko won the fight by technical knockout 40 seconds into the opening round.
32.
Akihiro Kaneko knocked Swinton down with a right straight as soon as the bout started, before flooring him with a strike to the body, which left his opponent unable to rise from the canvas.
33.
Akihiro Kaneko made his first K-1 Super Bantamweight Championship defense against the former two-weight Lumpinee Boxing Stadium champion Kompetch Sitsarawatsuer at K-1 World GP 2023: K'Festa 6 on March 12,2023.
34.
Akihiro Kaneko faced the undefeated WAKO-Pro European super bantamweight champion Emre Karaca in a -56 kg catchweight bout at K-1 World GP 2023 in Yokohama on June 3,2023.
35.
Akihiro Kaneko won the fight by a dominant first-round technical knockout.
36.
Akihiro Kaneko was awarded an automatic stoppage victory under the K-1 rules, as he was able to thrice knock Karaca down inside of single round.
37.
Akihiro Kaneko won the trilogy fight by unanimous decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.
38.
Akihiro Kaneko faced the one-time Glory of Heroes and Wu Lin Feng tournament winner Lan Shanteng in a -56 kg catchweight bout at K-1 ReBIRTH 2 on December 9,2023.
39.
Akihiro Kaneko faced the reigning RISE Bantamweight champion Masahiko Suzuki in a cross-promotional bout at RISE ELDORADO 2024 on March 17,2024.
40.
Akihiro Kaneko was twice able to knock Suzuki down, once in the first and once in the third round.
41.
Akihiro Kaneko faced national Kun Khmer -54 kg champion Kan Meng Hong in the quarterfinal bout of the 2024 K-1 Super Bantamweight Grand Prix, held at K-1 World MAX 2024 - World Championship Tournament Final on July 7,2024.
42.
Akihiro Kaneko knocked Hong down with a low kick in the opening round, with a right straight in the second round and finally stopped his opponent with a short left hook in the third and final round.
43.
Akihiro Kaneko faced the reigning Krush Super Bantamweight champion Riamu Sera in the semifinals at K-1 World MAX 2024 on September 29,2024.
44.
Akihiro Kaneko faced the one-time Krush Flyweight champion Rui Okubo in the Grand Prix finals.
45.
Akihiro Kaneko stopped his opponent with low kicks, 26 seconds into the second round.
46.
Akihiro Kaneko made his third K-1 Super Bantamweight title defense against Manolis Kallistis at K-1 World MAX 2025 on February 9,2025.
47.
On February 27,2025, The Asahi Shimbun reported that the Chiba Prefectural Police had filed an indictment to the Chiba District Public Prosecutor's Office on suspicion that Akihiro Kaneko had engaged in extortion and assault on an unnamed gym partner.
48.
Akihiro Kaneko was scheduled to face the former Krush Bantamweight champion Koji Ikeda in a non-title catchweight bout at K-1 Beyond on May 31,2025.