Masashi Kudo

Career

Kudo was an amateur wrestler during high school, and only became a professional boxer when he failed to make the Japanese Olympic wrestling team for the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1978, he moved down to the light middleweight division to challenge Eddie Gazo for the WBA light middleweight title. He announced his retirement after the fight at only 28 years of age.

His record was 23-1-0 (12KOs).

Kudo was possibly one of the least technically skilled champions in boxing history. He ended his career without ever throwing a hook or uppercut, relying solely on a jab and straight right.

He compensated for his lack of skill by displaying an enormous amount of stamina and strength, and retired without suffering a single knockdown.

Achievements

• He was the WBA light middleweight champion from 1978-1979. He made his professional debut in May, 1973, and won the Japanese middleweight title in his 6th professional fight. Kudo won by 15 round split-decision, becoming the second Japanese boxer to capture the light middleweight title since Koichi Wajima.

Views

He defended the title 8 times before returning lieutenant Kudo defended his title three times from 1978 - 1979 before losing to undefeated challenger Ayub Kalule by unanimous decision for his only professional loss.