Masao Ohba
BornOctober 21, 1949
Tokyo, Japan
DiedJanuary 25, 1973(1973-01-25) (aged 23)
Tokyo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Other namesThe Eternal Champion
Statistics
Weight(s)Flyweight
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins35
Wins by KO16
Losses2
Draws1

Masao Ohba (大場政夫, Ōba Masao, October 21, 1949 – January 25, 1973) was a professional boxer. He became the WBA flyweight World Champion on October 22, 1970, defeating the reigning champion Berkrerk Chartvanchai in Tokyo and retained the championship for an impressive five title defenses. He died in a car accident at 23, still holding his world title.[2] He was trained by Isamu Kuwata.

Childhood and early career

Ohba was born on October 21, 1949. Ohba's father was a factory worker and a compulsive gambler, causing him to know poverty from an early age. His father followed professional boxing as an avid fan which influenced Ohba's childhood aspirations and dreams. By the time Ohba was in elementary school, he dreamt of becoming a world champion, and bringing himself and his family out of poverty.[1]

After completing middle school, he took a job in a candy shop to help support his family and trained as a boxer in the evening. He joined the Teiken Boxing Gym in 1965.[3][4] Because Ohba weighed only about 105 pounds and barely stood five feet when he entered the gym, the trainers doubted that he would be successful as a professional boxer. He trained hard, putting on the seven pounds of muscle he needed to box within the flyweight range by the time he made his debut. He later had trouble making the strict flyweight limit later in his career, and at nearly five feet six inches was somewhat tall for a flyweight.

Professional career

Ohba made his professional debut on November 7, 1966, at the age of 17 against Kazuyoshi Watanabe in Tokyo. Between November 1966 and August 1968, he won all but one of his first eighteen bouts, with one draw. He fought all of these matches in his hometown of Tokyo.[2]

On December 14, 1969, he defeated Bernabe Villacampo in a non-title fight by way of a ten-round Unanimous Decision on points in Tokyo. Villicampo was Flyweight Champion at the time, making Oba's clear win an important victory, as well as an upset.[5][6][7]

Taking the WBA World Flyweight Title

He got his first world title shot on October 22, 1970, at Nichidi Auditorium, Nihon University, in Tokyo, against Berkrerk Chartvanchai, who was the WBA World flyweight champion. He won by TKO in the 13th round before a crowd of 7000,[8] becoming the eighth Japanese boxer to capture a world title. According to one source, the bout was postponed from its initial date when Chartvanchai took ill with a high fever.[9][10] Chartvanchai was down three times before finally being called out for the full count. Enrique Jimenez refereed. Oba finished off Chartvanchai with a volley of punches to the head at 2:16 into the thirteenth round. Charvantchai had trouble making the weight limit, even after doing light exercise and taking a steam bath, which may have weakened him for the bout. Oba gained a considerable lead in points throughout the match. Chartvanchai was weakened both by a cut to his eye he received in the fourth round which gave him trouble and the efforts he took to make weight.[11][12]

First four defenses of the WBA World Flyweight Title

On January 21, 1971, he defeated Swiss boxer Fritz Chervet in a non-title fight technical knockout at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The bout was ended after 1:31 into the eighth round.[13]

Ohba made his first three WBA World Flyweight Championship defenses by 15-round decisions, and his 4th defense by 5th-round KO, all at Nihon University Stadium in Tokyo. He also fought four non-title matches in between his defenses, winning all of them as well.[2] His first defense was against the great champion Betulio González on April 1, 1971, in Tokyo in a very significant fifteen round Unanimous Decision.[2] González would hold the Venezuelan Flyweight Title, and at one time hold both the WBC and WBA World Flyweight Championships.[2]

On August 19, 1971, he won a Unanimous Decision over Tony Moreno of San Antonio in a non-title ten round bout. The audience of 2000 were somewhat disappointed as Ohba was unable to score a knockdown against his opponent.[14]

His second defense of the World Flyweight Title was also a fifteen-round Unanimous Decision on October 23, 1971, against Filipino boxer Fernando Cabanela.[2] His third defense was against Japanese boxer Susumu Hanagata on March 4, 1972, in a fifteen-round mixed decision in Tokyo. Hanagata, an accomplished flyweight, would briefly take the WBA World Flyweight Title in October 1974.[2]

His fourth WBA World Flyweight defense was against Orlando "Yango" Amores from Colón, Republic of Panamá, on June 20, 1972, in Tokyo. Ohba impressively won on a fifth-round knockout.[2]

Last fight, fifth defense of WBA World Flyweight Title

On January 2, 1973, Ohba faced the Thai veteran boxer, Chartchai Chionoi, for his fourth defense. Ohba was knocked down with a right hook in only forty seconds into the first round, and injured his right ankle while falling to the canvas. He managed to pick himself up, and his corner iced his ankle in between rounds, but Ohba limped as he exchanged punches with Chionoi.

Even with his injury, Ohba managed to overpower Chionoi in the middle rounds, often using rights to the head, and finally knocked down the challenger for the first time a 2:19 into the 12th round. Chionoi was knocked down two more times in the round, and having been knocked down three times, the bout was ruled an automatic knockout. Ohba marked a dramatic 12th-round KO win for his 5th WBA World Flyweight Title defense.[15][16]

He remarked to an interviewer after the bout that "I did not expect the Thai to put up such a good fight, it was my hardest fight so far." He also noted "I did not expect the long hook that hit me first and made me groggy", and "I did not expect the second that dropped me on my pants."[17]

Premature death in car accident

On the morning of January 25, 1973, only three weeks after his last defense, Ohba died in a car accident. He was returning to the Teiken Gym where he both trained and lived.[18] Ohba was driving his new 1973 ivory Chevrolet Corvette down an expressway in Tokyo, when he hit a heavy duty eleven ton parked truck on the shoulder of the opposite lane.[19] His Corvette had jumped the road divider when he was unable to negotiate a turn and he was unable to regain control. He was driving around 60, in a 36-mile per hour zone and was an inexperienced driver, having only obtained his driver's license three months before the crash.[20] He was only 23 years old, and still in possession of the WBA title.[2][21] As a dutiful son, he had just bought his parents a new home. On February 5, 1973, a funeral service was held by the World Boxing Association at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, where he had once boxed. A separate service had been held at his home in Kasuwbe, twenty miles north of Tokyo.[19]

Ohba was dubbed "The Eternal Champion," because he was undefeated in world title bouts and died while still reigning champion. He had been planning on relinquishing his flyweight title to challenge for the bantamweight title before his death. His professional record was 35-2-1 (16KOs).

Achievements and honors

Ohba was part of the 2015 class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.[1]

Professional boxing record

38 fights 35 wins 2 losses
By knockout 16 0
By decision 19 2
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Age Location Notes
38 Win 35–2–1 Chartchai Chionoi KO 12 (15), 3:00 Jan 2, 1973 23 years, 73 days Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
37 Win 34–2–1 Natalio Jimenez KO 5 (12) Sep 26, 1972 22 years, 341 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
36 Win 33–2–1 Orlando Amores KO 5 (15), 2:00 Jun 20, 1972 22 years, 243 days Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
35 Win 32–2–1 Susumu Hanagata MD 15 Mar 4, 1972 22 years, 135 days Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
34 Win 31–2–1 Fernando Cabanela UD 15 Oct 23, 1971 22 years, 2 days Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
33 Win 30–2–1 Tony Moreno UD 10 Aug 19, 1971 21 years, 302 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
32 Win 29–2–1 Rocky Garcia TKO 9 (10), 0:59 Jun 18, 1971 21 years, 240 days Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas, US
31 Win 28–2–1 Betulio González UD 15 Apr 1, 1971 21 years, 162 days Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Retained WBA flyweight title
30 Win 27–2–1 Fritz Chervet TKO 8 (10), 1:31 Jan 21, 1971 21 years, 92 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
29 Win 26–2–1 Berkrerk Chartvanchai KO 13 (15), 2:16 Oct 22, 1970 21 years, 1 day Nihon University Auditorium, Japan Won WBA flyweight title
28 Win 25–2–1 Baby Corona KO 8 (10) Jun 21, 1970 20 years, 243 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
27 Win 24–2–1 Rudy Billones UD 10 Mar 1, 1970 20 years, 131 days Japan
26 Win 23–2–1 Bernabe Villacampo UD 10 Dec 14, 1969 20 years, 54 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
25 Win 22–2–1 Takeshi Nakamura UD 10 Aug 18, 1969 19 years, 301 days Japan
24 Win 21–2–1 Sakdinoi ETO PTS 10 Jun 23, 1969 19 years, 245 days Japan
23 Win 20–2–1 Yoshiaki Matsumoto UD 10 May 5, 1969 19 years, 196 days Japan
22 Win 19–2–1 Speedy Hayase PTS 10 Mar 3, 1969 19 years, 133 days Japan
21 Win 18–2–1 Shuta Yoshino PTS 10 Dec 23, 1968 19 years, 63 days Sendai, Japan
20 Win 17–2–1 Yuzo Narumi PTS 10 Oct 28, 1968 19 years, 7 days Japan
19 Loss 16–2–1 Susumu Hanagata UD 10 Sep 2, 1968 18 years, 317 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
18 Win 16–1–1 Shoji Wada PTS 8 Aug 5, 1968 18 years, 289 days Japan
17 Win 15–1–1 Shoichi Fujimaki KO 3 (10) Jun 17, 1968 18 years, 240 days Japan
16 Win 14–1–1 Takeo Tamaya TKO 4 (6) May 13, 1968 18 years, 205 days Japan
15 Win 13–1–1 Shoji Wada PTS 6 Mar 11, 1968 18 years, 142 days Japan
14 Win 12–1–1 Samurai Hagiri PTS 6 Jan 8, 1968 18 years, 79 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
13 Win 11–1–1 Shunichi Minagawa PTS 4 Dec 14, 1967 18 years, 54 days Kokugikan, Japan
12 Win 10–1–1 Toshimi Yasuda KO 4 (4) Nov 13, 1967 18 years, 23 days Japan
11 Draw 9–1–1 Snappy Asano PTS 4 Oct 13, 1967 17 years, 357 days Japan
10 Win 9–1 Masao Ohara RTD 2 (4) Sep 22, 1967 17 years, 336 days Japan
9 Win 8–1 Yasuo Jo PTS 4 Sep 3, 1967 17 years, 317 days Japan
8 Win 7–1 Tadashi Nishikawa KO 1 (4) Jul 31, 1967 17 years, 283 days Japan
7 Loss 6–1 Masakazu Tani UD 4 Jun 16, 1967 17 years, 238 days Osaka, Japan
6 Win 6–0 Kunio Shimada PTS 4 Apr 30, 1967 17 years, 191 days Kokugikan, Japan
5 Win 5–0 Kenji Otsuka PTS 4 Mar 27, 1967 17 years, 157 days Japan
4 Win 4–0 Sumio Arai RTD 3 (4) Feb 20, 1967 17 years, 122 days Korakuen Hall, Japan
3 Win 3–0 Ryoichi Takahashi KO 2 (4) Jan 2, 1967 17 years, 73 days Japan
2 Win 2–0 Joji Kuroki KO 3 (4) Dec 12, 1966 17 years, 52 days Japan
1 Win 1–0 Kazuyoshi Watanabe KO 1 (4) Nov 7, 1966 17 years, 17 days Japan

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Masao Ohba". ESPN.go.com. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Masao Ohba". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Ohba was member of Teiken Boxing Gym in "Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba is Dead", Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces, New Mexico, pg. 15, 25 January 1973
  4. ↑ "Auto Crash Fatal to Thai Champ", Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 32, 26 January 1973
  5. ↑ "In Line for Shot", The Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, pg. 13, 15 December 1969
  6. ↑ "Weekend Fights", Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, Illinois, pg. 18, 15, December 1969
  7. ↑ The fight was an upset in "Oba Wins Flyweight in Upset Over Filipino", Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, pg. 20, 15 December 1969
  8. ↑ "Japan's Masao Oba Wins Flyweight Title", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 13, 23 August 1970
  9. ↑ Chartvanchi had high fever in "Tessman is Next on Foster's List", Asbury Park Press, Asbury, New Jersey, pg. 14, 6 April 1970
  10. ↑ Bout took place at Nichidi Auditorium in "Title Foes Tomorrow", The Post Standard, Syracuse, New York, pg.30, 21 October 1970
  11. ↑ Chartvanchai was weakened by a steambath he took and a cut over his eye in "Japan's Masao Oba Wins Flyweight Title", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 13, 23 August 1970
  12. ↑ "Oba Kayos Chartvanchai for Flyweight Title", San Antonio Express, San Antonio, Texas, pg. 58, 23 October 1970
  13. ↑ "Oba Wins", Florence Morning News, Florence, South Carolina, pg. 8, 23 January 1971
  14. ↑ "Masao Oba Wins Decision," Kingsport Times, Kingsport, Tennessee, pg. 16, 20 August 1971
  15. ↑ "Masao Ohba Fight:123824". BoxRec. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  16. ↑ "Masao Ohba in Knockout", Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, pg. 80, 3 June 1973
  17. ↑ Ohba's quotes from "Japanese Retains World Flyweight Crown", Clarion- Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi, pg. 32, 3 January 1973
  18. ↑ Ohba was returning to the Teiken Gym in "Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba is Dead", Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces, New Mexico, pg. 15, 25 January 1973
  19. 1 2 Truck weighed eleven tons and he was driving a Corvette in "Ohba, World Boxing Champ Dies in Crash", The Monroe News Star, Monroe, Louisiana, pg. 31, 25 January 1973
  20. ↑ "Auto Crash Fatal to Fly Champ", The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 32, 26 January 1973
  21. ↑ "Masao Ohba". IBHOF. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA flyweight champion
October 22, 1970 – January 25, 1973
Died		 Vacant
Title next held by
Chartchai Chionoi
Records
Preceded by Latest born world champion to die
January 25, 1973 – August 12, 1982		 Succeeded by
Preceded by Shortest living world champion
January 25, 1973 – present		 Incumbent
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