Celes Kobayashi facts for kids

Celes Kobayashi (whose real name is Shoji Kobayashi) was born on February 27, 1973, in Ibaraki, Japan. He is a former professional boxer who became a world champion. He earned his unique ring name, "Celes," from a company he used to work for. Today, he lives in Chiba, Japan, with his family.

About Celes Kobayashi's Boxing Career

Celes Kobayashi was a talented boxer known for his southpaw (left-handed) style. He competed in different weight classes, including bantamweight, flyweight, and super flyweight.

Early Fights and Japanese Titles

Kobayashi started his professional boxing journey in April 1992. His first fight was in the bantamweight division, which he lost. He then moved to lighter weight classes.

In 1997, he tried to win the Japanese flyweight title but had to stop due to an injury. He tried again in April 1998 and lost by a judges' decision after 10 rounds. However, he didn't give up! In September of the same year, he fought for the title again and finally won it by decision. He successfully defended his Japanese flyweight title four times between 1998 and 2000, showing he was a strong champion in Japan.

Becoming a World Champion

In August 2000, Kobayashi aimed for an even bigger prize: a world title. He challenged Malcolm Tunacao for the WBC Flyweight title. The fight ended in a draw, meaning neither boxer won, and Tunacao kept his title.

Kobayashi got another chance at a world title in March 2001. This time, he challenged Leo Gamez for the WBA Super flyweight title. Kobayashi fought incredibly well, dominating Gamez throughout the match. He won the fight by TKO (Technical Knockout) in the 10th round, becoming a world champion!

Defending His Title and Retirement

As a world champion, Kobayashi had to defend his title. His first defense was in September 2001, which he won by a split decision (meaning the judges had different opinions, but he still got the win).

In March 2002, he faced Alexander Muñoz for his second title defense. Muñoz was a tough opponent, having won all 21 of his previous fights by knockout. Kobayashi lost his title to Muñoz by TKO in the 8th round. After this loss, Kobayashi decided to retire from boxing. He chose not to challenge for another world title and ended his professional career.

After Boxing

After retiring from boxing, Celes Kobayashi didn't leave the sport entirely. He worked for a short time as a trainer at his old boxing gym. Later, he opened his own gym called the "Celes Kobayashi Boxing Gym" in Chiba, Japan. He also often appears on TV in Japan as a commentator, sharing his expert opinions during big boxing matches.

See also

• List of southpaw stance boxers
• Boxing in Japan
• List of Japanese boxing world champions
• List of world super-flyweight boxing champions