By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Japanese national hero, 2012 Olympic gold medalist and former WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata (16-3, 13 KOs), 37, made an official announcement to hang up gloves for good today (Tuesday) in Tokyo, Japan. Murata, whose amateur mark was so excellent as 119-19, 89 stoppages, acquired the gold medal in the Olympic Games in London in 2012 as the second Japanese boxer since bantamweight Takao Sakurai in Tokyo in 1964. Ryota brilliantly gained the world professional championship as well as the Olympic gold medal.
“This is a commencement named retirement for me. I have nothing left to prove in the boxing world. I wish to utilize and return my experience and knowledge to people that have supported me—in the future.” Continue reading “Ryota Murata officially retires for good”