Philippines, 18 Mar 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:

  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 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.