Philippines, 04 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ISHIDA, FROM ONE OF THE ACTION HEROES TO JAPANESE HERO AND NEW ASIAN HERO


PhilBoxing.com





Rod Mijares also writes for Balita News Network in Las Vegas, Nevada

Boxing fans were aghast and speechless. Some could not even pronounce correctly his name. But, he was the talk of the night. People clapped their hands, blew whistles and chanted his name everywhere and every time he appeared in the arena which he paid back with his traditional Japanese bow in appreciation of his fight which he finished in a blink of an eye in a very spectacular and stunning fashion.

Japanese middleweight Nobuhiro Ishida (23 wins (8KO), 6 losses, 2 draws) knocked out, yes knocked out the previously undefeated and knockout artist American James Kirkland (27 wins (24KO), 1 lost, 0 draw) in the first round of their scheduled 8-round bout. The first of the three falls could have been a slip or out of balance after being hit. But not the second one when Ishida threw a combination and not the third and last one at 1:52 when Kirkland was hit by another combination which referee Joe Cortez lost no time in sort of pinning down Kirkland to stop him from standing up and receiving more punishment from Ishida.

The 6?1? but 35-year old Ishida taught Kirkland how to throw punches in succession and he taught him good. He was like a giant toying with a much shorter Kirkland at 5?9?. He threw 49 power punches and connected with 15 that produced those three knockdowns as compared to Kirkland who threw 21 power punches with only 8 connected.

Boxing fans were reminded of Manny Pacquiao who burst into the boxing limelight on June 23, 2001 when he TKO?d Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in the 6th round of their scheduled 12-round IBF super bantamweight championship at the same venue, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada also officiated by Joe Cortez. Pacquiao, who? That was when the Pac-man became the talk of the town and the rest is history.

Oscar De La Hoya paid tribute to Ishida by thanking him first for coming over to the United States to fight in spite of the calamities that befell Japan recently and until now. Ishida, through the interpreter, thank Golden Boy Promotions for giving him the opportunity to fight in America.

Out of sheer joy and satisfaction for the big and successful event and with the way Ishida fought and won, Mr. De La Hoya announced at the post-fight press conference that every penny of profit from the pay-per-view will be donated to the Japanese relief fund. Thus, Ishida impressed to everyone his being one of the Action Heroes to a Japanese hero and a new Asian hero, next to the Philippines Manny Pacquiao.

Boxing fans from now on will remember his name and will be chanting it as I-SHI-DA, I-SHI-DA. Better still like Pacquiao who is eating up his opponents like a ?Pac-man?, boxing fans will also be chanting TSU-NA-MI, TSU-NA-MI as he was like a tsunami that wrecked havoc and devastation to Kirkland.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • Rookie Kon Knueppel breaks Charlotte Hornets three points record
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • IBA extends its global reach through a strategic partnership with Nomad Fighting premiering at IBA Nomad 14
    , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • GM Laylo leads in Bundesliga 3 and in IIEE chess Olympiad season 8
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS TADURAN VS. PEREZ WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • PLANET ICE FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AS BROWN AND DUCAR FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Battle of the Trades Returns for Its 3rd Year April 25 at Torrey Pines Community Resource Center in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Bobby Laing vs. Russ Kimber in intriguing Intra-state match-up between Massachusetts Light Heavyweights on ‘Rumble at the Rink II’
    , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • PH chess wizard Jacobb Seda ties for 1st, settles for silver on tiebreaks in Thailand meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 03 Apr 2026
  • Rene “Chulo” Santiago, Masataka Taniguchi Officially Make Weight for Friday’s Unified World Title Clash in Tokyo
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Marlon Tapales and Yukinori Oguni Make Weight in Clash of Former World Champions
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Taduran in high spirits ahead of title defense in California
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Waiting to beat Floyd
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • 20th Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on May 1
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Can Tapales Overpower Oguni to Increase his Chances of Another World Title Fight?
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • BROWN-DUCAR PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S ALTRINCHAM FIGHT NIGHT
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Makes Headlines Again with Signing of Former World Champion  Julio Cesar “El Rey” Martinez
    , Thu, 02 Apr 2026
  • Santiago-Taniguchi Final Presser
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Jimuel in Action on Friday!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • “Rumble in the Une” Makes History in Union City with Star-Studded Fight Card Headlined by Jacob Macalolooy
    , Wed, 01 Apr 2026
  • Is Floyd chickening out?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 01 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.