Riku Kano: Boxing Career and Notable Fights
Riku Kano is a Japanese professional boxer from Kawanishi, Hyōgo, born November 16, 1997. His career has included bouts at minimumweight and light flyweight, with regional title appearances in Asia.
A title challenge in 2016
On August 20, 2016, Kano challenged Katsunari Takayama for the vacant WBO mini-flyweight world title in Sanda, Japan. The WBO recorded a unanimous technical decision for Takayama after six rounds. Kano later continued in regional competition; Boxerlist records a 2020 win over Ryoki Hirai for the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title.
Kano faced experienced opposition early and remained active across Asian boxing circuits, later reaching another world-title bout at flyweight.
Regional success and a second world-title opportunity
The Hirai victory came on November 23, 2020, in Sanda. Kano recovered from a third-round knockdown to earn a twelve-round split decision for the vacant regional belt. Boxing News’ contemporary report identifies the contest as a light-flyweight title fight, distinct from the minimumweight championship he had challenged for in 2016.
On July 20, 2024, Kano met Anthony Olascuaga in Tokyo for the vacant WBO flyweight championship. Olascuaga won by third-round knockout, leaving Kano unsuccessful in his second world-title attempt. The WBO’s August 2024 record confirms the result and the new champion.
These bouts trace Kano’s movement through three neighboring divisions. The Takayama challenge was at minimumweight, the Hirai regional win at light flyweight and the Olascuaga meeting at flyweight. That progression gives a more precise picture of his career than treating every championship appearance as part of one weight class.
Selected career results
Kano continued to build regional experience after the Hirai victory. The WBO’s October 2021 explanatory report recorded a ninth-round stoppage of Takumi Sakae, while its August 2024 report listed a September 2023 decision win over Kitidech Hirunsuk and a second-round stoppage of Khomsan Koewruean that December. These wins preceded the Olascuaga championship bout and connect his regional campaign with his later opportunity at flyweight.
Sources
Sources: https://wboboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2110-Explanations-October-2021.pdf; https://www.wboboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2408-Explanations-August-2024.pdf
