By Tré Berry III🖊️

News has been channeled in early from Japan today as former Unified RING/WBA/IBF Light-Flyweight Champion of the World ♛🇯🇵Ryoichi Taguchi (27-4-2, 12KO👊) officially called it quits. Taguchi is best remembered for his iron chin, most noted by somehow surviving a 10-rounder against “The Monster” ♛🇯🇵Naoya Inoue, who rocked Taguchi on several occasions. After suffering a UD defeat at the hands of Inoue in 2013, he would win his 1st World Title the following year, that being the WBA Light-Flyweight Title by winning a decision over 🇵🇪Alberto Rossel. He would defend his Title 7 times, including a draw against elite Light-Flyweight 🇻🇪Carlos Canizales, and became thee Champion of the division by taking 🇵🇭Milan Melindo’s IBF Title and winning the vacant RING Title by defeating Melindo via razor-thin Unanimous Decision verdict in a thriller of a contest.
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Following right after, he fought another riveting bout against South Africa’s 🇿🇦Hekkie Budler, and through a controversial verdict, Taguchi lost on the scorecards, and the 3 Titles exchanged hands. For years Ryoichi had his eyes set on the young phenom, that being fellow countrymen 🇯🇵Kosei Tanaka, and they would meet at Flyweight, with Taguchi moving north 4 lbs for the contest. It was a highly entertaining fight, and Taguchi certainly didn’t embarrass himself, and held his own, including wobbling Tanaka at one point, though the class of Tanaka was one above what Taguchi could handle, and he lost by Unanimous Decision, with Tanaka tying the record to becoming the fastest 3-division Champion in boxing history in just 12 outings as a professional. With Taguchi getting the mega-fight he wanted, and achieving a good deal of success in his Championship run spanning 3 1/2 years, he has decided to call it quits at the age of 32. A very solid Champion, and a memorable career, 🎩hats off to a warrior.