Masao Ohba
RealnameMasao Ohba　大場政夫
WeightFlyweight
Height5 ft 6.1 in (1.68 m)
NationalityJapanese
Birth dateOctober 21, 1949
Birth placeSumida, Tokyo, Japan
Death dateJanuary 25, 1973 (aged 23)
Death placeTokyo, Japan
StyleOrthodox
Total38
Wins35
Losses2
Draws1
Ko16

Masao Ohba (大場政夫, Ōba Masao, October 21, 1949 – January 25, 1973) was a Japanese professional boxer. He became the WBA flyweight World Champion on October 22, 1970, defeating the reigning champion Berkrerk Chartvanchai in Tokyo and retained the championship for an impressive 5 title straight defenses. He died in a car accident at 23, still holding his world title.[1] He was trained by Isamu Kuwata.He is Soh Ohba's uncle. Soh's adoptive father is Masao's younger brother, Isaburo Ohba, who is 5 years younger than him. Since 1994, Isaburo has served as the chairman of the Japan Renewal Party Yokohama City Rental Supporting Members Liaison Committee, the assistant secretary general of the New Frontier Party (Japan)(NFP) Kanagawa Prefectural Union, and a temporary staff member of the NFP successor party.

Childhood and early career

Ohba was born on October 21, 1949. Ohba's father was a factory worker and a compulsive gambler, causing him to know poverty from an early age. His father followed professional boxing as an avid fan which influenced Ohba's childhood aspirations and dreams. By the time Ohba was in elementary school, he dreamt of becoming a world champion, and bringing himself and his family out of poverty.[2]

After completing middle school, he took a job in a candy shop to help support his family and trained as a boxer in the evening. He joined the Teiken Boxing Gym in 1965.[3][4] Because Ohba weighed only about 105 pounds and barely stood five feet when he entered the gym, the trainers doubted that he would be successful as a professional boxer. He trained hard, putting on the seven pounds of muscle he needed to box within the flyweight range by the time he made his debut. He later had trouble making the strict flyweight limit later in his career, and at nearly five feet six inches was somewhat tall for a flyweight.

Professional Boxing career

Ohba made his professional debut on November 7, 1966, at the age of 17 against Kazuyoshi Watanabe in Tokyo. Between November 1966 and August 1968, he won all but one of his first eighteen bouts, with one draw. He fought all of these matches in his hometown of Tokyo.[1]

On December 14, 1969, he defeated Bernabe Villacampo in a non-title fight by way of a ten-round Unanimous Decision on points in Tokyo. Villicampo was Flyweight Champion at the time, making Oba's clear win an important victory, as well as an upset.[5][6][7]

Taking the WBA World Flyweight Title

He got his first world title shot on October 22, 1970, at Nichidi Auditorium, Nihon University, in Tokyo, against Berkrerk Chartvanchai, who was the WBA World flyweight champion. He won by TKO in the 13th round before a crowd of 7000,[8] becoming the eighth Japanese boxer to capture a world title. According to one source, the bout was postponed from its initial date when Chartvanchai took ill with a high fever.[9][10] Chartvanchai was down three times before finally being called out for the full count. Enrique Jimenez refereed. Oba finished off Chartvanchai with a volley of punches to the head at 2:16 into the thirteenth round. Charvantchai had trouble making the weight limit, even after doing light exercise and taking a steam bath, which may have weakened him for the bout. Oba gained a considerable lead in points throughout the match. Chartvanchai was weakened both by a cut to his eye he received in the fourth round which gave him trouble and the efforts he took to make weight.[11][12]

First four defenses of the WBA World Flyweight Title

On January 21, 1971, he defeated Swiss boxer Fritz Chervet in a non-title fight technical knockout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The bout was ended after 1:31 into the eighth round.[13]

Ohba made his first three WBA World Flyweight Championship defenses by 15-round decisions, and his 4th defense by 5th-round KO, all at Nihon University Stadium in Tokyo. He also fought four non-title matches in between his defenses, winning all of them as well.[1] His first defense was against the great champion Betulio González on April 1, 1971, in Tokyo in a very significant fifteen round Unanimous Decision.[1] González would hold the Venezuelan Flyweight Title, and at one time hold both the WBC and WBA World Flyweight Championships.[1]

On August 19, 1971, he won a Unanimous Decision over Tony Moreno of San Antonio in a non-title ten round bout. The audience of 2000 were somewhat disappointed as Ohba was unable to score a knockdown against his opponent.[14]

His second defense of the World Flyweight Title was also a fifteen-round Unanimous Decision on October 23, 1971, against Filipino boxer Fernando Cabanela.[1] His third defense was against Japanese boxer Susumu Hanagata on March 4, 1972, in a fifteen-round mixed decision in Tokyo. Hanagata, an accomplished flyweight, would briefly take the WBA World Flyweight Title in October 1974.[1]

His fourth WBA World Flyweight defense was against Orlando "Yango" Amores from Colón, Republic of Panamá, on June 20, 1972, in Tokyo. Ohba impressively won on a fifth-round knockout.[1]

Last fight, fifth defense of WBA World Flyweight Title

On January 2, 1973, Ohba faced the Thai veteran boxer, Chartchai Chionoi, for his fourth defense. Ohba was knocked down with a right hook in only forty seconds into the first round, and injured his right ankle while falling to the canvas. He managed to pick himself up, and his corner iced his ankle in between rounds, but Ohba limped as he exchanged punches with Chionoi.

Even with his injury, Ohba managed to overpower Chionoi in the middle rounds, often using rights to the head, and finally knocked down the challenger for the first time a 2:19 into the 12th round. Chionoi was knocked down two more times in the round, and having been knocked down three times, the bout was ruled an automatic knockout. Ohba marked a dramatic 12th-round KO win for his 5th WBA World Flyweight Title defense.[15][16]

He remarked to an interviewer after the bout that "I did not expect the Thai to put up such a good fight, it was my hardest fight so far." He also noted "I did not expect the long hook that hit me first and made me groggy", and "I did not expect the second that dropped me on my pants."[17]

Premature death in car accident

On the morning of January 25, 1973, only three weeks after his last defense, Ohba died in a car accident. He was returning to the Teiken Gym where he both trained and lived.[18] Ohba was driving his new 1973 ivory Chevrolet Corvette down an expressway in Tokyo, when he hit a heavy duty eleven ton parked truck on the shoulder of the opposite lane.[19] His Corvette had jumped the road divider when he was unable to negotiate a turn and he was unable to regain control. He was driving around 60, in a 36-mile per hour zone and was an inexperienced driver, having only obtained his driver's license three months before the crash.[20] He was only 23 years old, and still in possession of the WBA title.[1][21] As a dutiful son, he had just bought his parents a new home. On February 5, 1973, a funeral service was held by the World Boxing Association at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, where he had once boxed. A separate service had been held at his home in Kasuwbe, twenty miles north of Tokyo.[19]

Ohba was dubbed "The Eternal Champion," because he was undefeated in world title bouts and died while still reigning champion. He had been planning on relinquishing his flyweight title to challenge for the bantamweight title before his death. His professional record was 35-2-1 (16KOs).

Achievements and honors

Ohba was part of the 2015 class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.[2]

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes
38Win35–2–1Chartchai ChionoiKO12 (15), 3:00Jan 2, 197323Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
37Win34–2–1Natalio JimenezKO5 (12)Sep 26, 197222Korakuen Hall, Japan
36Win33–2–1Orlando AmoresKO5 (15), 2:00Jun 20, 197222Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
35Win32–2–1Susumu HanagataMD15Mar 4, 197222Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
34Win31–2–1Fernando CabanelaUD15Oct 23, 197122Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
33Win30–2–1Tony MorenoUD10Aug 19, 197121Korakuen Hall, Japan
32Win29–2–1Rocky GarciaTKO9 (10), 0:59Jun 18, 197121Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas, US
31Win28–2–1Betulio GonzálezUD15Apr 1, 197121Nihon University Auditorium, JapanRetained WBA flyweight title
30Win27–2–1Fritz ChervetTKO8 (10), 1:31Jan 21, 197121Korakuen Hall, Japan
29Win26–2–1Berkrerk ChartvanchaiKO13 (15), 2:16Oct 22, 197021Nihon University Auditorium, JapanWon WBA flyweight title
28Win25–2–1Baby CoronaKO8 (10)Jun 21, 197020Korakuen Hall, Japan
27Win24–2–1Rudy BillonesUD10Mar 1, 197020Japan
26Win23–2–1Bernabe VillacampoUD10Dec 14, 196920Korakuen Hall, Japan
25Win22–2–1Takeshi NakamuraUD10Aug 18, 196919Japan
24Win21–2–1Sakdinoi ETOPTS10Jun 23, 196919Japan
23Win20–2–1Yoshiaki MatsumotoUD10May 5, 196919Japan
22Win19–2–1Speedy HayasePTS10Mar 3, 196919Japan
21Win18–2–1Shuta YoshinoPTS10Dec 23, 196819Sendai, Japan
20Win17–2–1Yuzo NarumiPTS10Oct 28, 196819Japan
19Loss16–2–1Susumu HanagataUD10Sep 2, 196818Korakuen Hall, Japan
18Win16–1–1Shoji WadaPTS8Aug 5, 196818Japan
17Win15–1–1Shoichi FujimakiKO3 (10)Jun 17, 196818Japan
16Win14–1–1Takeo TamayaTKO4 (6)May 13, 196818Japan
15Win13–1–1Shoji WadaPTS6Mar 11, 196818Japan
14Win12–1–1Samurai HagiriPTS6Jan 8, 196818Korakuen Hall, Japan
13Win11–1–1Shunichi MinagawaPTS4Dec 14, 196718Kokugikan, Japan
12Win10–1–1Toshimi YasudaKO4 (4)Nov 13, 196718Japan
11Draw9–1–1Snappy AsanoPTS4Oct 13, 196717Japan
10Win9–1Masao OharaRTD2 (4)Sep 22, 196717Japan
9Win8–1Yasuo JoPTS4Sep 3, 196717Japan
8Win7–1Tadashi NishikawaKO1 (4)Jul 31, 196717Japan
7Loss6–1Masakazu TaniUD4Jun 16, 196717Osaka, Japan
6Win6–0Kunio ShimadaPTS4Apr 30, 196717Kokugikan, Japan
5Win5–0Kenji OtsukaPTS4Mar 27, 196717Japan
4Win4–0Sumio AraiRTD3 (4)Feb 20, 196717Korakuen Hall, Japan
3Win3–0Ryoichi TakahashiKO2 (4)Jan 2, 196717Japan
2Win2–0Joji KurokiKO3 (4)Dec 12, 196617Japan
1Win1–0Kazuyoshi WatanabeKO1 (4)Nov 7, 196617Japan

See also

References

  1. ^ "Masao Ohba". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Masao Ohba". ESPN.go.com. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  3. ^ Ohba was member of Teiken Boxing Gym in "Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba is Dead", Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces, New Mexico, pg. 15, 25 January 1973
  4. ^ "Auto Crash Fatal to Thai Champ", Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 32, 26 January 1973
  5. ^ "In Line for Shot", The Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, pg. 13, 15 December 1969
  6. ^ "Weekend Fights", Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, Illinois, pg. 18, 15, December 1969
  7. ^ The fight was an upset in "Oba Wins Flyweight in Upset Over Filipino", Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, pg. 20, 15 December 1969
  8. ^ "Japan's Masao Oba Wins Flyweight Title", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 13, 23 August 1970
  9. ^ Chartvanchi had high fever in "Tessman is Next on Foster's List", Asbury Park Press, Asbury, New Jersey, pg. 14, 6 April 1970
  10. ^ Bout took place at Nichidi Auditorium in "Title Foes Tomorrow", The Post Standard, Syracuse, New York, pg.30, 21 October 1970
  11. ^ Chartvanchai was weakened by a steambath he took and a cut over his eye in "Japan's Masao Oba Wins Flyweight Title", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 13, 23 August 1970
  12. ^ "Oba Kayos Chartvanchai for Flyweight Title", San Antonio Express, San Antonio, Texas, pg. 58, 23 October 1970
  13. ^ "Oba Wins", Florence Morning News, Florence, South Carolina, pg. 8, 23 January 1971
  14. ^ "Masao Oba Wins Decision," Kingsport Times, Kingsport, Tennessee, pg. 16, 20 August 1971
  15. ^ "Masao Ohba Fight:123824". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  16. ^ "Masao Ohba in Knockout", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 80, 3 June 1973
  17. ^ Ohba's quotes from "Japanese Retains World Flyweight Crown", Clarion- Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, pg. 32, 3 January 1973
  18. ^ Ohba was returning to the Teiken Gym in "Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba is Dead", Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces, New Mexico, pg. 15, 25 January 1973
  19. ^ Truck weighed eleven tons and he was driving a Corvette in "Ohba, World Boxing Champ Dies in Crash", The Monroe News Star, Monroe, Louisiana, pg. 31, 25 January 1973
  20. ^ "Auto Crash Fatal to Fly Champ", The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 32, 26 January 1973
  21. ^ "Masao Ohba". IBHOF. Retrieved 28 August 2016.