Shokichi Iwata

Shokichi Iwata is a Japanese orthodox light‑flyweight who rose through the domestic ranks to become a world champion. As of his most recent ring appearances he holds the WBC world light‑flyweight title and carries a professional record of 17 wins and 2 losses, with 14 stoppages. Born and based in Tokyo, Iwata has built his reputation on power for the division and a steady progression through Japanese and regional championship ranks. Iwata's profile first reached international attention with a fourth‑round knockout on the undercard of the Braekhus vs Magdziak‑Lopes card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California in December 2018. Back in Japan he compiled a string of stoppage victories and unanimous decision wins at Korakuen Hall and other domestic arenas, moving from scheduled four‑ and six‑round bouts into longer championship assignments. A decisive step in Iwata's career came in November 2021 when he stopped Rikito Shiba in the ninth round to capture the vacant Japanese light‑flyweight title. He made a swift first defence in March 2022, halting Junya (Toshimasa) Ouchi inside a round, then extended his regional resume in July 2022 by outpointing veteran Kenichi Horikawa over 12 rounds to add the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific light‑flyweight belts while retaining the national crown. That regional run set up a world title opportunity. Iwata challenged for the WBO world light‑flyweight title on 2022‑11‑01 against Jonathan González but came up short, losing by unanimous decision. He regrouped with a series of knockout wins through 2023 and early 2024, including KOs of Jerome Baloro, Jayson Brillo and Rene Mark Cuarto, before stepping back into world title contention. On 2024‑10‑13 Iwata captured the vacant WBO world light‑flyweight title with a third‑round TKO of Jairo Noriega at Ariake Arena. His reign was brief: he lost the WBO title by unanimous decision to René Santiago in March 2025 at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Iwata returned later that year with a seventh‑round knockout of Edwin Cano. Iwata reached the top of another governing body in March 2026 when he defeated Thammanoon Niyomtrong (Knockout CP Freshmart) for the WBC world light‑flyweight title. The official result was later amended by the Japan Boxing Commission and WBC from a technical decision to a technical knockout in Iwata’s favour. He confirmed his hold on the belt with an eleventh‑round TKO defence against Erik Badillo on 2026‑07‑20 at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Now the reigning WBC world light‑flyweight champion, Iwata remains an active presence in the division, known for a high stoppage rate and a résumé that includes national, regional and world title fights across Tokyo and other major venues.