24 Facts About Hideki Todaka

Hideki Todaka is a former professional boxer who fought in the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions.

Hideki Todaka is the former WBA super flyweight champion, and former WBA bantamweight interim champion.

Hideki Todaka got his professional license when he was 18, but was only able to make his debut in 1994, when he was 21, after having to recuperate from a back injury.

In June, 1996, Hideki Todaka challenged and won the Japanese light flyweight title.

In 1998, Hideki Todaka transferred from his gym in Miyazaki to a larger gym located in Nagoya.

WBA super flyweight champion Satoshi Iida trained at this gym, and Hideki Todaka often fought on the undercard of Iida's title matches.

Hideki Todaka won his fight in December, 1998 to obtain a world ranking, but Iida lost to Jesus Kiki Rojas the same day to lose his WBA Super flyweight title.

Hideki Todaka became the opponent for Rojas' first defense, which was scheduled for March, 1999 in Hideki Todaka's hometown, Miyazaki.

Hideki Todaka made an aggressive start, giving the veteran champion a challenging fight in the early rounds.

Hideki Todaka won back the later rounds of the fight, and the judges awarded him a close, but unanimous victory to make him the new WBA super flyweight champion.

Hideki Todaka outboxed Nago for 12 rounds, and retained his title by a unanimous decision win.

Hideki Todaka fought Yokthai Sithoar in April, 2000, for his second defense.

Hideki Todaka's head was repeatedly snapped back from Sithoar's punches in the early and middle rounds, but in Round 8, Hideki Todaka's right hook caught Sithoar squarely in the head, just before the round was finished.

Hideki Todaka took advantage of the opportunity, and pounded the Sithoar in the 9th and 10th rounds, and in the 11th round, he sent Sithoar reeling back to the ropes with a powerful punch.

Hideki Todaka was losing on all three of scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

Almost half a year after his second defense, Hideki Todaka fought Leo Gamez in October 2000.

Gamez had won world titles in three different weight classes, but it was expected to be an easy fight for Hideki Todaka, considering that Gamez was past his prime.

However, Hideki Todaka was not his usual self in the ring, as he seemed unable to see any of Gamez's punches.

Hideki Todaka was battered throughout the fight, before being knocked out by a powerful right hook from Gamez in the 7th round.

Hideki Todaka had held the WBA title for one year and two months, and it took him one year and five months to fully recover from his injuries.

Hideki Todaka spent all of 2001 to recover, and finally made his comeback in March 2002, winning three fights to regain his world ranking.

Hideki Todaka had planned on having a unification bout with the WBA bantamweight champion, but was unable to come to terms with promoters, and decided to make a defense instead, which was set on March 6,2004, against Julio Zarate.

Hideki Todaka had turned 30 in 2004, and no longer possessed the physical strength needed to compete at a world level.

Hideki Todaka spent the entire fight trying to catch up to the challenger, and lost by unanimous decision to lose his interim title after only five months.