Yuji Suzuki, better known as Guts Ishimatsu is a Japanese actor, comedian, tarento and former professional boxer who competed in the Lightweight division from 1966 to 1978.
25 Facts About Guts Ishimatsu
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Guts Ishimatsu is a one-time former WBC Lightweight Champion and an OPBF Lightweight Champion.
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Guts Ishimatsu lost 14 of his 51 professional fights, a rather large number of losses for a world champion.
4.
Guts Ishimatsu often appears as a foolish boke character on television, but this is an act he puts on for media purposes.
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Guts Ishimatsu was known primarily as a rough, undisciplined fighter early in his career, but his technique improved greatly under the tutelage of American trainer Eddie Townsend.
6.
Guts Ishimatsu challenged Shinichi Kadota in 1972, and won by decision to capture the OPBF Lightweight title.
7.
In 1973, Guts Ishimatsu challenged the legendary Roberto Duran in Panama for the WBA Lightweight title.
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Guts Ishimatsu fought hard, but was brutally knocked out in the 10th round.
9.
Guts Ishimatsu credited his win with being able to prepare for three extra months, which he used to pack on extra stamina for the fight.
10.
Guts Ishimatsu was re-introduced to Gonzalez 32 years later on a Japanese television show, where he learned that he and Gonzalez bore an uncanny number of similarities, including being born in a poor household, and succeeding as an actor after retiring from boxing as former world champions.
11.
Guts Ishimatsu made his first title defense in September, 1974, and beat Gonzalez again in November, 1974 for his second title defense.
12.
Buchanan led the early and middle rounds by points, but Guts Ishimatsu fought back in the later rounds, swinging his arms around almost blindly to slow Buchanan's pace.
13.
Guts Ishimatsu made his fourth defense in June, 1975, but he gradually realized that it was becoming harder and harder for him to maintain his weight in the Lightweight division.
14.
Guts Ishimatsu lost his title in May 1976 to Esteban De Jesus by 15 round decision.
15.
Guts Ishimatsu moved up to Junior Welterweight in 1977, challenging Saensak Muangsurin, but was knocked out in the 6th round.
16.
Guts Ishimatsu retired after losing again in a non-title match on June 20,1978.
17.
Guts Ishimatsu had begun to appear on television shows even before his boxing career had ended.
18.
Guts Ishimatsu appeared on a variety show for the first time in 1974, only the day after he had become the WBC lightweight world champion.
19.
Guts Ishimatsu became indispensable to quiz shows and game shows, where he would make the meaningless answer "OK Boku-jo" regardless of what the trivia question was actually asking.
20.
Guts Ishimatsu is credited with coining the word "Guts Pose", now commonly used in the Japanese language.
21.
Guts Ishimatsu has explained that his right hand shows his own joy at winning the fight, and his left hand shows his gratitude to the crowd.
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Guts Ishimatsu has appeared in several movies, both inside and outside Japan.
23.
Guts Ishimatsu says the only reason he started acting was so that he could be on the screen with Ken Takakura, who was his childhood idol.
24.
Guts Ishimatsu has appeared in numerous TV dramas, and has occasionally attempted to write and direct movies of his own.
25.
Guts Ishimatsu has a large grave already built in the Satsuki Reien cemetery in Kanuma, Tochigi.