Emiko Raika

Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer and mixed martial artist.[1][2][3][4][5][6] [7]

Emiko Raika
Born (1975-01-24) January 24, 1975
Kyoto, Japan
Other namesRaika
NationalityJapanese
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionLightweight (boxing)
Flyweight (MMA)
Reach68.0 in (173 cm)
StyleBoxing
StanceOrthodox
Years active(2000-2013) (Boxing)
2014-present (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total34
Wins25
By knockout10
Losses8
By knockout0
Draws1
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins9
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision7
Losses6
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision3
No contests1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Although more Japanese women have taken up traditionally male sports such as karate, kickboxing and wrestling in recent years, many in Japan still believe that women should not box, because of the injury risk. Raika, who has suffered a broken nose and an eye socket fracture in fights, shrugs off the possibility of injuries. "When I told friends that I want to become a boxer, they were surprised and put down my decision because I am a woman," said Raika. "But I had to resist. I like boxing and I wanted to do it. In fact, I am expressing myself through boxing. I am fighting not to beat the opponent, but for myself."

Biography

Early life

Raika lived with her grandmother until she was three. After her grandmother died, she spent the next 15 years in the Karyo-en children's home in Kyoto. Raika was a good student, among the top of her high school graduating class. She studied at Ogaki Women's College and became a licensed dental hygienist, later working at a dental clinic. She quit the job after a month, because she did not like the uniform. She tried other jobs, but they did not make her happy.

"I felt as if I were not living and felt myself destroying." said Raika, "I was very weak mentally. I could choose to have an ordinary life, but I wanted more than just that - to become strong."

Boxing career

Always enjoying rough sports such as wrestling and rugby, Raika joined a local boxing gym that she found while commuting to work at a battery manufacture, and trained to compete as an amateur boxer.

Raika had three wins in three amateur fights, and was named the most outstanding woman in a local amateur tournament, where she was spotted by Toshihiro Yamaki, a Tokyo gym owner.

With a growing number of Japanese women becoming interested in boxing, a group of gym owners had organized a women's boxing association in 1999, with Yamaki as its secretary general, called the Japanese Women's Boxing Commission (JWBC).

Yamaki was impressed by Raika, and asked her to join his gym and turn professional. She now devotes full-time to boxing.

Raika won the WIBA Featherweight World title from Australian Sharon Anyos in 2001, and successfully defended the title in a 2002 rematch. After destroying an overmatched Shelby Walker in two rounds for her second title defence on May 23, 2004, Raika made her 3rd title defence against the rugged (and undefeated) brawler Melissa Fiorentino on September 18, 2004, in Kyoto, Japan. It was called the WIBA 2004 Fight of the Year, Raika again successfully defended her crown via 10 round decision in a brutal toe-to-toe slugfest.

Raika then vacated her world title at featherweight (126 pounds) to move up in weight to the super featherweight division (130 pounds).

On March 13, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika lost a 10 round decision to Chevelle Hallback for the vacant WIBA Super Featherweight World Title.

On October 1, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won an 8 round decision over Belinda Laracuente.

On May 20, 2006, in Cholla Province, Korea, Raika moved up another 2 weight classes, to 140 pounds, where she won a 10 round unanimous decision over Won Mi Chung, for the IFBA Light Welterweight World Title.

On June 10, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika knocked out Yoko Takahashi in the 4th round with a body shot.

On December 15, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won a 10 round unanimous decision over Terri Blair to win the vacant WIBA Lightweight World Title.

Combat Record

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
16 matches 9 wins 6 losses
By knockout 1 1
By submission 1 2
By decision 7 3
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–6 (1) Mayra Cantuária Submission (armbar) Pancrase 304 April 14, 2019 1 3:17 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–5 (1) Edna Oliveira Decision (split) Pancrase 302 December 9, 2018 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 8–5 (1) Kseniya Guseva Decision (split) Pancrase 297 July 1, 2018 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8–4 (1) Seul Gi Jeon Decision (unanimous) GRANDSLAM 7: Way of the Cage March 25, 2018 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–4 (1) Ji Yeon Seo Submission (rear naked choke) TTF Challenge 07 October 9, 2017 2 2:37 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–4 (1) Hae In Kim Decision (split) Road FC 040 July 15, 2017 2 5:00 Seoul, South Korea
Win 5–4 (1) Jin Hee Kang Decision (unanimous) Road FC 037 XX March 11, 2017 3 5:00 Seoul, South Korea
Win 4–4 (1) Satsuki Kodama Decision (unanimous) Deep Jewels 15 February 25, 2017 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–4 (1) Jin Hee Kang Decision (unanimous) Deep Jewels 14 November 2, 2016 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 2–4 (1) Rin Nakai TKO (elbows) Pancrase 279 July 24, 2016 3 2:43 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 2–3 (1) Brogan Walker Decision (unanimous) PXC 50 December 4, 2015 3 5:00 Mangilao, Guam
NC 2–2 (1) Jessica-Rose Clark No Contest TTF Challenge 05 September 23, 2015 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Result overturned due to Clark missing weight.
Win 2–2 Slavka Vitaly Decision (split) Pancrase - 268 July 5, 2015 3 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–2 Sayako Fujita KO (punch) Real FC 2 - Zone & Real 2 October 16, 2015 2 2:06 Yokohama,Japan
Loss 0–2 Shizuka Sugiyama Technical Submission (armbar) Deep - Dream Impact 2014: Omisoka Special December 31, 2014 1 4:06 Saitama, Japan
Loss 0–1 Su Jeong Lim Decision (unanimous) Revolution 2 - Start of the Revolution September 12, 2014 2 5:00 Seoul, South Korea

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
43 fights 35 wins 8 losses
By knockout 10 0
By decision 25 8
Draws 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Time Date Location Notes
34 Loss 25–8–1 Choi Hyunmi UD 10 2:00 Aug 15, 2013 Wolmido, Icheon interim WBA World female super featherweight title
33 Win 25–7–1 Cristina Sanchez UD 8 2:00 Mar 12, 2013 Korakuen Hall
32 Win 24–7–1 Bas Sor Tammajak KO 2 1:10 Oct 28, 2012 Furukawa Sogo Gym, Osaki, Miyagi
31 Win 23–7–1 Cynthia Munoz UD 6 2:00 Jul 11, 2012 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
30 Loss 22–7–1 Jelena Mrdjenovich UD 10 2:00 Sep 22, 2011 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
29 Win 22–6–1 Chika Mizutani KO 4 1:54 Apr 4, 2011 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
28 Win 21–6–1 Bronwyn Wylie UD 10 2:00 Sep 24, 2010 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo vacant OPBF female lightweight title
27 Win 20–6–1 Lamduan Superchamps KO 3 2:09 Apr 1, 2010 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
26 Win 19–6–1 Pantip Muangubon KO 4 1:48 Dec 6, 2009 ATC Hall, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
25 Loss 18–6–1 Layla McCarter UD 10 2:00 Jul 3, 2009 South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada WBA World female lightweight title Global Boxing Union Female World lightweight title
24 Loss 18–5–1 Olivia Gerula SD 8 2:00 Mar 3, 2009 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
23 Loss 18–4–1 Ann Saccurato UD 10 2:00 Aug 11, 2008 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo vacant WBC World female lightweight title
22 Win 18–3–1 Natalie Brown MD 6 2:00 May 9, 2008 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo,
21 Win 17–3–1 Ann Saccurato MD 10 2:00 Nov 10, 2007 Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo Women's International Boxing Association World lightweight title
20 Loss 16–3–1 Jelena Mrdjenovich UD 10 2:00 Apr 7, 2007 Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta WBC World female super featherweight title
19 Win 16–2–1 Terri Blair UD 10 2:00 Dec 15, 2006 Tokyo vacant Women's International Boxing Association World lightweight title
18 Win 15–2–1 Yoko Takahashi KO 4 1:30 Jun 10, 2006 Shinjuku FACE
17 Win 14–2–1 Won-Mi Jung UD 10 2:00 May 20, 2006 Jeongeup, South Korea vacant International Female Boxers Association World super lightweight title
16 Win 13–2–1 Belinda Laracuente PTS 8 2:00 Oct 1, 2005 Roppongi Velfarre, Tokyo
15 Loss 12–2–1 Chevelle Hallback UD 10 2:00 Mar 13, 2005 Velfarre, Roppongi, Tokyo Women's International Boxing Association World featherweight title
14 Win 12–1–1 Melissa Fiorentino UD 10 2:00 Sep 18, 2004 Kyoto Women's International Boxing Association World featherweight title
13 Win 11–1–1 Shelby Walker TKO 2 1:59 May 23, 2004 Kyoto Women's International Boxing Association World featherweight title
12 Win 10–1–1 Sharon Anyos UD 10 2:00 Nov 30, 2003 Tokyo Women's International Boxing Association World featherweight title
11 Win 9–1–1 Jeri Sitzes MD 8 2:00 Jun 25, 2003 Tokyo
10 Win 8–1–1 Sharon Anyos SD 10 2:00 Dec 18, 2002 Tokyo Women's International Boxing Association World featherweight title
9 Win 7–1–1 Lauren Bennett TKO 2 0:27 Sep 7, 2002 Tokyo
8 Win 6–1–1 Mika Harikae TKO 3 Jun 9, 2002 Tokyo
7 Loss 5–1–1 Layla McCarter MD 8 2:00 Apr 29, 2002 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
6 Win 5–0–1 Miki Kikukawa UD 10 2:00 Feb 3, 2002 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
5 Win 4–0–1 Mika Harikae TKO 3 1:15 Jul 20, 2001 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
4 Win 3–0–1 Miki Kikukawa SD 6 2:00 Mar 2, 2001 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
3 Win 2–0–1 Ann Jihe MD 6 2:00 Dec 12, 2000 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
2 Draw 1–0–1 Kaori Koizumi MD 6 2:00 Sep 21, 2000 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo
1 Win 1–0 Keiko Onuma TKO 3 1:17 May 8, 2000 Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo

References
  1. Stephen Rivers. "Jessy Jess vs Emiko Raika Set for Tokyo Japan". Girl Fights Mma. Archived from the original on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  2. "Japanese Woman Draws New Fans to Old Sport - Boxing - 2002-12-16". Voanews.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  3. "'Defector Boxer Girl' Choi outpoints Raika for WBA interim female super featherweight title | Boxing News". Fightnews. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  4. "Japanese female boxing pioneer Fujin Raika retires - Asian Boxing". Asianboxing.info. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  5. "Su Jeong Lim To Face Emiko Raika At Revolution 2 In Seoul". MMARising.com. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  6. "Women's MMA Report: Esparza-Jedrzejczyk set for UFC 185, Hamasaki shines in Japan". MMAjunkie. 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  7. "Women's Boxing: Emiko Raika Biography". Wban.org. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
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