Yuki (kickboxer)
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| Yuki | |
|---|---|
| Born | Yuki Taguchi November 6, 1982 Fukuoka, Japan |
| Other names | Mr. RISE |
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 61 kg (134 lb; 9.6 st) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | ANCHOR GYM |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 61 |
| Wins | 30 |
| By knockout | 15 |
| Losses | 30 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| Draws | 1 |
Yuki Taguchi (裕樹), popularly known as Yuki, is a retired Japanese kickboxer, who competed professionally from 2003 until 2020. He is the former RISE Super Lightweight and Lightweight champion and Super Featherweight champion. Nicknamed "Mr. RISE", he was one of RISE's most notable fighters, having fought a grand total of 37 times with the organization.[1] As of December 2012 he was ranked the #4 lightweight kickboxer in the world by Liverkick.[2]
Yuki made his professional debut in November 2003, with a low kick KO victory over Takayuki Nishimoto. Over the next five years, Yuki amassed a 10-8 record, finishing as a runner-up in the 2004 RISE Dead or Alive Tournament. In July 2008, at RISE 48, Yuki challenged Yuji Takeuchi for the RISE Lightweight title. He won the fight by a fourth round TKO.[3]
Yuki was scheduled to defend his title for the first time against Kan Itabashi at RISE 52. He failed to defend his title, as Itabashi won the fight by unanimous decision.[4]
Following this loss, Yuki went on a 5-2 run, earning himself another chance to fight for the RISE Lightweight title, as he challenged the incumbent champion Koji Yoshimoto. Yuki won the fight by a second round TKO.[5][6] He was scheduled to defend his title against Yuto Watanabe at RISE 87.[7] Yuki defeated Watanabe by a majority decision.[8] He fought Lee Sung-hyun at RISE 91, but failed to defend for the second time, as Lee won the fight by a fourth round TKO.[9]
Following this loss, Yuki took part in the 2013 Road to Glory Japan 65 kg Tournament. He won a unanimous decision against Mohan Dragon in the quarterfinals, and defeated Zen Fujita by TKO in the semifinals. He failed to capture the tournament however, as he suffered a TKO loss at the hands of Masaaki Noiri in the finals.[10]
He next participated in the 2013 SHOOT BOXING 65 kg S-Cup. He beat Seiji Takahashi by TKO in the quarterfinals, but dropped a decision to Hiroaki Suzuki in the semifinals.[11]
At RISE 97, he fought in a RISE Lightweight title eliminator tournament, being scheduled to fight Tatsuaki in the semifinals.[12] He beat him by unanimous decision, but lost a majority decision to Shohei Asahara in the finals.[13]
In September 2014, at RISE 101, Yuki fought Naoki for the RISE Super Lightweight title.[14] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[15]
Yuki fought 13 times in the next five years, going on a 5-7-1 run. In November 2020, for his retirement fight, Yuki requested a fight with the RISE Featherweight champion Tenshin Nasukawa. His request granted, the two of them met at the RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Osaka event. Nasukawa dominated the fight, knocking Yuki down once in the first round, and three times in the second fight before the referee was forced to stop the bout.[16][17]
Titles and accomplishments
- RISE
- 2014 RISE Super Lightweight champion[18]
- 2010 RISE Lightweight champion[19]
- 2008 RISE Super Featherweight champion[20]
- 2004 RISE Dead or Alive Tournament runner-up[21]
