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Hiroki Akimoto

Japanese kickboxer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Hiroki Akimoto (秋元 皓貴, Akimoto Hiroki; born August 31, 1992) is a Japanese kickboxer. He competes in ONE Championship's bantamweight and flyweight division, where he is the former ONE Kickboxing Bantamweight World Champion.[3][4]

Quick facts Born, Nationality ...

As of June 2022, he is ranked as the second-best featherweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press. He's been ranked in the top ten since December 2021.[5][6] As of April 17, 2024, he is ranked #2 in the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing rankings.[7]

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Background

Japanese-born Akimoto began his martial arts journey at the age of eight. He took up full contact karate[8] and became a top talent over his years of training. Both of his parents were instructors in the Shichishu-Kai, but he was never forced to participate. It was not until he was involved in a fight at school did he decide to take up martial arts.[9]

As his skills grew, he turned to competition. He did not stick with karate, and also competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts. To get the most of his talents, Akimoto moved from Japan to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA and pursue a world title in ONE Championship.[10]

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Kickboxing career

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Akimoto got off to an incredible start to his professional career. He racked up 19 straight kickboxing victories that would lead him to be signed by ONE Championship.

ONE Championship

Early promotional career

Akimoto made his organizational debut with ONE Championship on January 25, 2019 at ONE Championship: Hero's Ascent. It was his first kickboxing bout in nearly six years.[11] Akimoto won the fight by unanimous decision.[12]

The now 20–0 striker returned to competition on March 31, 2019 at ONE Championship: A New Era against Joseph Lasiri.[13] Akimoto lost the bout by majority decision, suffering the first loss of his professional career.[14]

Akimoto faced Kenny Tse at ONE Championship: Masters Of Destiny on July 12, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, successfully rebounding from his loss to Lasiri.[15]

Move to Bantamweight

Akimoto faced Zhang Chenglong at ONE Championship: Reign of Dynasties 2 on October 17, 2020.[16] He won the fight by split decision.[17] Due to the close decision, the pair were immediately booked for a rematch at ONE Championship: Fists Of Fury on February 26, 2021.[18] Akimoto was more convincing in the rematch, as he beat Zhang by unanimous decision.[19]

Akimoto faced former Wu Lin Feng kickboxing champion Qiu Jianliang at ONE: Winter Warriors on December 3, 2021.[20] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[21]

Bantamweight kickboxing champion

Akimoto (then the #2 ONE Kickboxing Bantamweight contender) challenged the reigning ONE Bantamweight kickboxing champion Capitan Petchyindee Academy at ONE: X on March 25, 2022.[22] He won the fight by unanimous decision, after controlling the final four rounds of the bout. Capitan was twice warned for illegal clinching and was deducted a point for it in the fourth round.[23][24] Akimoto was given the $50,000 Performance of the Night award as well,[25] and was named the March 2022 "Fighter of the Month" by eFight.[26]

Akimoto made his first ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World title defense against #4 ranked contender Petchtanong Petchfergus at ONE 163 on November 18, 2022.[27] He lost the fight by split decision (and also his second loss on his kickboxing career).[28]

Post title regin

After a 1-year and 5-month hiatus, Akimoto faced Wei Rui on May 4, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 22.[29] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[30]

Akimoto faced Ilias Ennahachi on September 27, 2024, at ONE Friday Fights 81. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[31]

Akimoto faced John Lineker on March 23, 2025, at ONE 172.[32] He won the fight via split decision.[33]

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Titles and accomplishments

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Kickboxing

Amateur

  • Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Federation
    • 2008 MAJKF All Japan Tournament Bantamweight Winner & event MVP[34]
  • K-1
    • 2010 K-1 Koshien Tournament Runner-up

Professional

Awards

Karate

  • Japan Karate Judge Organization
    • 2005 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -40kg runner-up[39]
    • 2006 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -50kg runner-up[40]
    • 2007 JKJO Karate-Do MAC Japan Cup Middle School -40kg runner-up[41]
    • 2007 JKJO All Japan Junior Championship Middle School -55kg runner-up[42]
  • Japanese Fullcontact Karate Organization
    • 2015 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight Runner-up[43]
    • 2016 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight 3rd Place[44]
    • 2017 JFKO All Japan Full Contact Championship Lightweight Champion[45]
  • Kyokushin World Federation
    • 2016 KWF Russian Open Lightweight 1st Place
    • 2017 KWF Karate Grand Prix Lightweight Champion[46]
    • 2017 KWF Karate European Championship 70 kg 3rd Place[47]
    • 2018 KWF Karate Grand Prix Lightweight Runner-up[48]

Professional Kyokushin

  • World Fighting Kyokushin Organization
    • 2018 WFKO World Pro Kyokushin -65kg Champion[49]

Fight record

More information Date, Result ...
More information Date, Result ...
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See also

References

External links

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