Koji Ikeda (Japanese: 池田幸司, Ikeda Koji, born June 30, 1997) is a Japanese professional kickboxer, currently competing in the bantamweight divisions of K-1 and Krush.
A professional competitor since 2019, Ikeda is the current Krush Bantamweight champion. As of April 2022, Combat Press ranks him as the eight best strawweight kickboxer in the world.[1]
Kickboxing career
Bantamweight
Early career
Ikeda made his professional debut against Kosuke at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 106 on October 13, 2019. He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[2] Ikeda faced Yuki Toyoda at K-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ~Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament~ on December 28, 2019, in his second professional bout. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–28 and 30–28.[3]
Ikeda was booked to face the 1-2 Mao Hashimoto at Krush 115 on July 21, 2020. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 29–28.[4] After suffering the first loss of his professional career, Ikeda was scheduled to participate in the 2020 Krush bantamweight tournament. Ikeda faced Begin Yoshioka in the tournament quarterfinals, held at Krush 118 on October 17, 2020.[5] He lost the fight by split decision.[6]
Ikeda was booked to face Yuya Uzawa at Krush 120 on December 19, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 30–28, successfully snapping his two-fight losing skid.[7] Ikeda next faced Eiki Kurata at K-1: K'Festa 4 Day 1 on March 21, 2021. Kurata missed weight by 500 g at the official weigh-ins.[8] He won the fight by a second-round knockout.
This two fight streak earned Ikeda a place in the 2021 K-1 Japan Bantamweight Tournament, which took place on May 29, 2021.[9] He faced the eventual tournament winner Toma Kuroda in the quarterfinal bout, which he lost by a second round knockout. Ikeda was first knocked down with a counter left-straight at the end of the opening round, before suffering a flying knee knockdout 50 seconds into the next round.[10]
Ikeda faced Daiki Mine at Krush 128 on August 21, 2021. He rebounded from his third professional loss with a unanimous decision win against Mine, with scores of 30–27, 30–26 and 30–26. He scored the sole knockdown of the fight in the first round, as he dropped Mine with a right straight.[11] Ikeda next faced Kazuki Fujita at Krush 131 on November 20, 2021. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout, stopping Fujita with right straights.[12][13]
Krush bantamweight champion
His two-fight winning streak earned Ikeda the opportunity to challenge the reigning Krush Bantamweight champion Kazuki Miburo on March 26, 2022, in the main event of Krush 135.[14] He won the fight by majority decision, with two judges awarding him a 30–29 scorecards, while the third judge scored the bout as an even 30–30 draw.[15]
Ikeda made his first Krush title defense against the 2020 K-1 Koshien super bantamweight tournament winner Aoi Noda. The bout was scheduled as the main event of Krush 139, which took place on July 30, 2022.[16] Ikeda retained the title by a first-round knockout. He knocked Noda down with a spinning backfist early in the second round and stopped him with a right straight soon after.[17]
On October 14, it was announced that Ikeda would particulate in the 2022 K-1 Bantamweight World Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place at K-1 World GP 2022 in Osaka on December 3, 2022. Ikeda faced the FCKBMT -57kg champion Ambi Nsue Avomo in the quarterfinals of the one-day tournament.[18] He stopped Avomo with a liver kick in the second round, after knocking him down with a right straight in the first round, and faced the multiple-time muay thai champion Issei Ishii in the semifinals.[19] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 30–28.[20]
Ikeda made his second Krush Bantamweight title defense against Kiri Matsutani at Krush 146 on February 25, 2023.[21] He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[22]
Ikeda faced the former Rajadamnern Stadium bantamweight champion Petchmongkol Soonkelahuaytom at K-1 World GP 2023 in Yokohama on June 3, 2023.[23] He won the fight by a close split decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.[24]
Ikeda faced Musashi Matsushita at RISE WORLD SERIES 2023 Final Round on December 16, 2023.[27] He won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–29, 29–28 and 29–29.[28]
Ikeda faced Lyra Nagasaka in the reserve bout of the 2024 K-1 super bantamweight tournament at K-1 World MAX 2024 on September 29, 2024.[33] He lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[34]