June 10, 2013, Beverly Hills. Calif. — Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum (R) announces the signing of 2012 Japanese Olympic Medalist Middleweight Ryota Murata(L) at the Beverly Hills Hotel Monday.
Murata captured the Olympic gold medal in the middleweight division at the 2012 Olympics held in London. It was the first gold medal won by a Japanese boxer since Takao Sakurai in 1964, and also is the first-ever boxing medal in a weight class other than bantamweight or flyweight. Murata also became the 100th gold medalist in Japanese Olympic history. The six-foot orthodox fighter will campaign as a middleweight as a professional.
Photos: Chris Farina – Top Rank.
