Masao Oba’s Five-Defense Reign Ended With a Final Chionoi
Masao Oba won the WBA flyweight championship by knocking out Berkrerk Chartvanchai in the thirteenth round in Tokyo on October 22, 1970. The Teiken boxer retained the championship through five successful defenses.
The championship defenses
Oba defeated Betulio González by decision over fifteen rounds in April 1971, then outpointed Fernando Cabanela in October. His third defense was a fifteen-round decision over Susumu Hanagata in March 1972.
A fifth-round knockout of Orlando Amores followed in June 1972. These results kept the WBA flyweight championship with Oba as he built a reign centered on Tokyo title contests.
The last fight and untimely death
On January 2, 1973, Oba stopped Chartchai Chionoi in the twelfth round at Nihon University Auditorium. It was the fifth and final defense of his championship.
Oba died in a car accident on January 25, 1973, while still world champion. His professional record contained thirty-five wins, two defeats and one draw, with sixteen knockout victories.
Oba had to recover from a first-round knockdown against Chionoi before producing his final championship victory. Earlier in his development, Masakazu Tani had knocked him down repeatedly during a four-round contest in Osaka in June 1967. Oba lost that decision but rallied strongly late, displaying the persistence that later characterized several of his successful championship performances.
Sources
- Teiken Boxing Gym: Oba’s complete record and five championship defenses
- BoxRec: Oba’s death while reigning champion
- Boxing News: fiftieth anniversary of Oba’s death
