Masamori Tokuyama

[emanuel_augustus]

Did anyone ever see this guy fight? By all accounts a great pure boxer, not much power but extremely technically solid. Beat In Joo Cho twice, Gerry Penalosa twice, dominated Jose Navarro in 2006, and then I guess retired? He have any fans out there?

[emanuel_augustus]

This is interesting, from Wiki:

Tokuyama and North Korea

Zainichi Koreans before Tokuyama either tried to conceal their roots by adopting Japanese names, or only used their real names to show that they were Korean. However, Tokuyama did neither, using both his Japanese name (Masamori Tokuyama) and real name (Chang Soo Hong), while declaring that he is a Zainichi Korean. He has often taken politics inside the ring, carrying a North Korean flag in his entrances and wearing trunks labeled "One Korea." Many of Tokuyama's fans regard his performances as the emergence of a new generation of Zainichi Koreans, who are not afraid of their heritage, while others negatively view Tokuyama as using sports to promote a political agenda.

Tokuyama visited North Korea in 2001, and reportedly made a statement vowing allegiance to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il, thanking the dictator for his success as a boxer. In 2002, former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi made a visit to North Korea, which revealed the kidnappings of several Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 80s by North Korea. News of the kidnappings received huge media coverage in Japan, and Tokuyama's website was spammed relentlessly with abusive messages when it was rumored that Tokuyama commented: "They (the kidnapped Japanese citizens) might actually be living pretty happily in North Korea."

He has often used the North Korean national anthem as his entrance theme.

[emanuel_augustus]

What, no Asian boxing fans here?

I thought you guys were experts???

[theunderdog]

penalosa won those two fights. he got robbed. pretty much like how they robbed him of a decent decision against ponce de leon. gerry clearly won at least 4 rounds and 2 of the judges just gave him one. and the third scored it a shut out. stupid freking judges

[Bangis]

penalosa won those two fights. he got robbed. pretty much like how they robbed him of a decent decision against ponce de leon. gerry clearly won at least 4 rounds and 2 of the judges just gave him one. and the third scored it a shut out. stupid freking judges


yes... i saw the fight and gerry was definitely robbed...

[Bangis]

I know that Tokuyama is a NOrth Korean fighting out of Japan, and Ive seen a few of his fights, including the one against In JOo CHo ( not IN Jin Chi like many novice pinoy fans believe ) lol, and he's pretty well schooled. A textbook fighter but I don't think he's great or anything.. I don't think he's good enough to take over the division.

why all hate man? whats the point?

[CASH_718]

No one's ever schooled Jose Navaro.

[emanuel_augustus]

No one's ever schooled Jose Navaro.

Did you see it? "The Ring" had it a pretty wide margin for Tokuyama.

[valdosta]

Tokuyama shcooled Navarro. Hit him over and over with right hands. Not sure what the robbery talk is about Tokuyama-Penalosa, those were both close fights but I thought Tokuyama won both. Sorry, no robbery. Tokuyama was an excellent fighter.

[lyraus]

I saw him fight live once. Very good little fighter indeed

[theunderdog]

Tokuyama shcooled Navarro. Hit him over and over with right hands. Not sure what the robbery talk is about Tokuyama-Penalosa, those were both close fights but I thought Tokuyama won both. Sorry, no robbery. Tokuyama was an excellent fighter.

you serious?? gerry's clean punches outnumbered tokuyama's 2-1! he punch gerry once in the shoulder and run a mile.

[valdosta]

Tokuyama outworked Penalosa. it wasn't pretty but he won both fights. Sorry, but there's no basis to say Penalosa outlanded Tokuyama 2-1, I don't know what you was watching.

[theunderdog]

Tokuyama outworked Penalosa. it wasn't pretty but he won both fights. Sorry, but there's no basis to say Penalosa outlanded Tokuyama 2-1, I don't know what you was watching.


he rode his bicycle and waited for the judges to hand him a decision that's how