Whatever happened to Shinji Takehara?

[warp1432]

The only japanese middleweight world champion ever. He had the WBA title in 96, but then lost it to joppy. He then I guess retired.

Why though? He didn't have that many fights. Could have been a contender and got some more title shots. He could have faced Hopkins or Holmes.

Why did he bust?

[grayfist]

He suffered a detached retina during the Joppy fight and was forced to retire.

For some half a dozen years after his loss to Joppy he worked odd jobs to make ends meet. Then, a TV station asked him to host a reality show that aped The Contender. His popularity soared again. He was offered a contract by PRIDE to take part in their tournament (along with having been a boxer, he also is a judoka) but, I guess, he turned it down.

He was known to have judo-thrown some of his wards in the Contender-type TV show when they misbehaved (he was trainer of the fighers as well as co-host).

He recorded a rap album, as well!

Years back, a TV station in Japan came up with a special show in which former and current Japanese boxing champions vied for the honor of being named Japan's heaviest puncher. Takehara won it effortlessly.

Years after their meeting, Joppy was quoted as having said, Takahera was the heaviest puncher he ever faced. Given the type of foes Joppy has had, that's a mouthful.

He continues to make spot appearances on Japanese TV; he even had a small but featured role in a Japanese soap.

Here's how he looks like today:

[Mr. Ryan]

He suffered a detached retina during the Joppy fight and was forced to retire.

For some half a dozen years after his loss to Joppy he worked odd jobs to make ends meet. Then, a TV station asked him to host a reality show that aped The Contender. His popularity soared again. He was offered a contract by PRIDE to take part in their tournament (along with having been a boxer, he also is a judoka) but, I guess, he turned it down.

He was known to have judo-thrown some of his wards in the Contender-type TV show when they misbehaved (he was trainer of the fighers as well as co-host).

He recorded a rap album, as well!

Years back, a TV station in Japan came up with a special show in which former and current Japanese boxing champions vied for the honor of being named Japan's heaviest puncher. Takehara won it effortlessly.

Years after their meeting, Joppy was quoted as having said, Takahera was the heaviest puncher he ever faced. Given the type of foes Joppy has had, that's a mouthful.

He continues to make spot appearances on Japanese TV; he even had a small but featured role in a Japanese soap.

Here's how he looks like today:

Well, I guess that answered the question then.

[SkillspayBills]

He suffered a detached retina during the Joppy fight and was forced to retire.

For some half a dozen years after his loss to Joppy he worked odd jobs to make ends meet. Then, a TV station asked him to host a reality show that aped The Contender. His popularity soared again. He was offered a contract by PRIDE to take part in their tournament (along with having been a boxer, he also is a judoka) but, I guess, he turned it down.

He was known to have judo-thrown some of his wards in the Contender-type TV show when they misbehaved (he was trainer of the fighers as well as co-host).

He recorded a rap album, as well!

Years back, a TV station in Japan came up with a special show in which former and current Japanese boxing champions vied for the honor of being named Japan's heaviest puncher. Takehara won it effortlessly.

Years after their meeting, Joppy was quoted as having said, Takahera was the heaviest puncher he ever faced. Given the type of foes Joppy has had, that's a mouthful.

He continues to make spot appearances on Japanese TV; he even had a small but featured role in a Japanese soap.

Here's how he looks like today:

He is also married. HA! Something you didn't say.

[grayfist]

He is also married. HA! Something you didn't say.

I did not know that he did, so I could not have said it.

My knowledge of him is limited to a few highlights of his public persona.

[grayfist]

Well, I guess that answered the question then.

Just the little that I know, really. A Japanese friend of mine, Hiro Haga, whom I was with only last night (we're both visiting the Philippines) is a huge fan of Takehara.

The photo attached to my initial post was given to me by Hiro in an email some months back. I saved it to my hard drive and retrieved it earlier to attach to my first post on this thread.

[Mr. Ryan]

Just the little that I know, really. A Japanese friend of mine, Hiro Haga, whom I was with only last night (we're both visiting the Philippines) is a huge fan of Takehara.

It's a coincidence how you always seem to have these in-depth and comprehensive answers to the most obscure, random boxing questions. I'm onto you Mr. Grayfist...

[grayfist]

It's a coincidence how you always seem to have these in-depth and comprehensive answers to the most obscure, random boxing questions. I'm onto you Mr. Grayfist...

Not always, my friend. I continue to be awed by the knowledge of many members here and on other sites. Often, I read something I absolutely have no inkling about and simply shut my mouth and learn. I only come in when I feel I have a bit to contribute. (That accounts for the relatively few posts I have put up in close to four years of membership on this site).

Anyhow, I only know things that my 57 years of life have given me. One gets to pick up a few odds and ends if one has lived long enough, I guess. Just a few odds and ends.

Besides, I have friends who are deep into boxing who tell me stories. Sometimes, all I do is re-tell the stories.

For example, my friend Hiro. He teaches physics in a university in Tokyo and works on a special project funded by a grant. But if you listen to him in the course of ordinary conversation, you'd easily conclude that he's a boxing buff foremost and a physicist only on odd days.

He is married to a Filipina and they have a son named Kenneth-- no Japanese names for his son, no sir.

We were introduced to each other by a common friend-- another boxing buff.