CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — An amputee boxer? Far out, one might say.
But a 23-year old amputee amateur boxer is determined to get a license to fight as a professional boxer. And he has traveled all the way from Japan to pursue his dream.
Naozumi ?Nao? Tsuchiyama, a Japanese national now residing in this city had his left leg amputated when he was three years old due to a disease. But this has not stopped him from pursuing his dream to be a professional boxer.
He started boxing training in Okinawa, Japan when he was 16 years old. He trained under former world welterweight boxing champion Nobuaki Hiranaka and former world rated boxer Ernie Cataluna, a Filipino who encouraged him to pursue his dream in the Philippines.
Tsuchiyama arrived in the Philippines two months ago and has since then trained under former World Boxing Council Jr. lightweight champion Rene Barrientos in this city.
He is fitted with an artificial leg, which he said is not much of a problem when he fights, a fact borne out by his record as an amateur boxer in Japan.
Tsuchiyama has compiled a record as an amateur boxer of 6 wins and two losses in eight fights. Five of the six wins came by knockouts, which indicate that he packs a mean wallop.
Barrientos believes that Tsuchiyama have the potentials and can handle the demands of a highly physical sport like boxing. He has the power, which is important in boxing and can move well and defend himself even with his physical condition, Barrientos said.
Tsuchiyama who is working as a Japanese language teacher at the Asia Resource Alternatives, Inc. in this city has already applied for a license as a professional boxer with the local office of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
To show his capability, Tsuchiyama had a sparring session with Arnel Salvania, a professional eight rounder boxer. GAB representatives and mediamen attended the sparring.
