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.”
Born in Nara city, Nara prefecture in 1986, Murata established himself in the amateur ring by winning the silver medal in the World Championship tourney in 2011 prior to his acquisition of the Olympic gold next year. The Japanese six-footer won the WBA 160-pound belt by halting Hassan N’Dam after the seventh session in 2018. Though losing it to Bob Brant in Las Vegas, Murata regained it via second round stoppage over Brant in 2019.
Murata’s career reached the peak when he, WBA champ, faced IBF kingpin Gennady Golovkin in Saitama last April. Displaying a gallant performance, Ryota finally succumbed to GGG in round nine to have the audience’s heart warm.
Japan has produced many great champions in smaller divisions, but it was rare to see such a middleweight titlist as Murata (following the footstep of Shinji Takehara in 1995). He had been greatly supported by Teiken Promotions’ worldwide matchmaking power–coupled with Top Rank’s tremendous cooperation. We would like to see Murat’s activities and achievements after he says a farewell to the ring.
Well-done, champ.
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Getting stopped by old man GGG is a good indication he wasn’t going to get to the top. Theres some killers at middleweight that makes GGG not even want to fight if its not Canelo.
A fine and successful Boxing career, nonetheless. Best wishes to Murata.
World silver medalist, Olympic gold medalist and 2x world champion… yep. Mission accomplished. Congrats on an excellent boxing career Murata and all the best in your next stop!
Nice and humble person. Enjoy Retirement Champ.
God Bless You…
Going home with plenty of flowers thats for sure
I enjoyed his fights, I attended his first fight vs Rob Brant and Rob had a great game plan and high output. The novelty was that he was a rare, tough talented middleweight with Olympic pedigree combined for a Japanese fighter. I was a fan, but I would be remiss to not point out the disapointment. Not that he had the loss to Brant or GGG. (The Ndam loss was B.S.) It’s that Murata had his fights spaced out too long between each other (19 fights in 9 years) when his pro career did not begin until about age 28. He knew time was short, his promoters did not push the pace. Also when the challenges got too tough among the elite, Ryota Murata ducked out. I suppose it is easier to do when you have amassed a good amount of endorsement income to complement prizefighting. And we all know it’s his choice. But Murata did not push on after GGG. I only give him credit for avenging the Brant loss. There are so many honorable japanese champions to look to for their accomplishments. Even if they lost big fights they had the “ganbare spirit”. I don’t see that with Ryota. Congrats on his retirement. But when the times got tough he jumped ship. I used to think of the Japanese “tarento” Yoko Gushiken as overrated because as soon as he lost his first title fight, he quit… However to his credit Gushiken made 13 title defenses over 3 years before losing that fight. He proved it with consistency. In contrast we celebrated Murata over almost a decade post Olympics sucess while he built his career up slower than a turtle stuck in molasses. He was gifted a belt, than quits as soon as he couldn’t deal with GGG. I can’t celebrate his quitting. I like him, but he doesn’t deserve the flowers or celebration. Being in a rare weightclass as a gold medalist for a particular race but not eclipsing mid-contender status doesn’t make you a all time great. Sorry to say, but that’s the truth.
Smart guy,walks away with reputation and $$$$$.