Koichi (kickboxer)

Koichi Watanabe (Japanese: コウイチ) (26 October 1980 - 7 April 2018), better known as Koichi Pettas or simply KOICHI, was a Japanese heavyweight kickboxer competing in K-1, It's Showtime and GLORY.[1]

Koichi Watanabe
Watanabe at "K-1 Fighting Network Turkey 2007" press conference
Born(1980-10-26)October 26, 1980
Niigata, Japan
Died7 April 2018(2018-04-07) (aged 37)
Native name渡邉 浩一
Other namesKOICHI
Nationality Japanese
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
StyleKickboxing
TeamBungeling Bay Spirit
Team Spirit
TrainerNicholas Pettas
Years active2008–2018
Kickboxing record
Total44
Wins31
By knockout18
Losses12
By knockout4
Draws1
last updated on: April 7, 2018

Biography and career

Koichi gained recognition fighting in organizations like RISE and MARS, then went on to win the M-1 Heavyweight Muaythai title in 2009 and the WPMF Japan Heavyweight Muaythai title in 2010. Having spent most of his career at heavyweight, Koichi dropped to light-heavyweight following back-to-back losses to Jerome Le Banner in GLORY events. He retired from active competition in November 2017 to become a trainer. Koichi was killed in a traffic accident on April 7, 2018. He collided with a car while driving a scooter in Tokyo. He was declared dead shortly upon arrival at the hospital.[2]

Titles

  • 2010 WPMF Japan Heavyweight Muaythai champion
  • 2009 M-1 Heavyweight Muaythai champion

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing Record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. "Koichi Watanabe K-1 profile". K-1 Grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
  2. "元K-1選手KOICHIが交通事故で死亡 渋谷の交差点でバイクと車が衝突". Breaking News Japan. Archived from the original on 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
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