Tragic Passing of Kazuki Anaguchi at 23 Years Old

The Japanese boxing community is mourning the loss of Kazuki Anaguchi, who tragically passed away at the young age of 23. The Japanese Boxing Commission confirmed the heartbreaking news, revealing that Anaguchi succumbed to his injuries on Friday evening in Tokyo, where he was hospitalized.

Anaguchi's untimely death followed a December 26 bout against Seiya Tsutsumi, which ended in a unanimous decision defeat for Anaguchi. The ESPN+/Lemino aired fight, hailed as a potential Fight of the Year candidate, showcased an intense battle between the two unbeaten Japanese bantamweights at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. However, the match took a devastating turn when Anaguchi suffered a severe cut over his left eye, leading to medical attention and his eventual hospitalization.

Despite showing tremendous resilience in the ring, Anaguchi never regained consciousness after the fight. He was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent an emergency craniotomy to address a subdural hematoma on the right side of his brain.

Anaguchi's determination and skill were evident throughout the fight, as he gave a spirited performance against Tsutsumi in his quest for the Japanese bantamweight title. However, despite his valiant efforts, Anaguchi was knocked down in several rounds, ultimately leading to Tsutsumi's victory with scores of 95-91, 94-92, and 94-92.

The tragic incident occurred on the undercard of the Naoya Inoue-Marlon Tapales undisputed junior featherweight championship at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The boxing community rallied around Anaguchi, who was based in Osaka, but is now mourning his passing.

Anaguchi, a talented amateur boxer with a record of 68-8, turned professional in July 2021 after a failed attempt to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. His potential was evident early in his career, notably in a December 2022 eight-round victory over former three-time title challenger Jonathan Taconing. The fight against Tsutsumi was his first scheduled ten-rounder, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Anaguchi leaves behind a one-year-old daughter, with whom he had hoped to spend time on a family trip following the Tsutsumi bout. His passing has deeply saddened the boxing community, and he will be remembered for his talent, determination, and the promise he showed in the ring.