The condition of 23-year-old Osaka-born Kazuki Anaguchi, per the late update, remains serious. The Japanese southpaw blacked out after the match against reigning bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi on December 26. The two fought on one of the cards of the Naoya Inoue versus Marlon Tapales headline.

Anaguchi, who was knocked down four times during the fight, never gave up and took Tsutsumi the whole distance. But in the end, he lost the bout via unanimous decision. However, sadly, viewers had to bear witness to the gruesome sight of the young boxer struggling in his corner. Reportedly, he lost consciousness while being taken to his designated room at the nearby hospital. Subsequently, he underwent emergency brain surgery and has yet to come out of his unconscious state.

Crisis in the Ring: The Japanese boxer’s condition remains grave

The ten-round bout between Kazuki Anaguchi and Seiya Tsutsumi reportedly stands a good chance of receiving a nomination as a ‘Fight of the Year.’ Such was the ferocity with which both boxers fought. In fact, it appeared at times that Anaguchi had gotten the better of Tsutsumi. But unfortunately, he suffered knockdowns during the fourth, seventh, ninth, and tenth rounds. It led to the judge handing over scorecards in the bantamweight champion’s favor, 95-91, 94-92, and 94-92.

Following the match, unsettling scenes unfolded. While in his corner, Kazuki Anaguchi experienced convulsions. As his body trembled, his corner found it challenging to keep him upright. The distressing images and clips sparked concern not only among those around them but also across the wider boxing community.

While the Japanese Boxing Commission confirmed Anaguchi’s status, superstar Naoya Inoue too joined many fans and followers in wishing for the young boxer’s speedy recovery.

A few details about Kazuki Anaguchi

Kazuki Anaguchi made his professional debut two years ago, on July 24, 2021. He came with an unbeaten record of six wins (2 knockouts) when he challenged Seiya Tsutsumi for his belt. Anaguchi boasted an impressive amateur record of 68 wins against six losses before he professionally debuted. Incidentally, the Boxing Day match was the first ten-round bout of his two-year-old career. His most famous victory to date remains the unanimous win over three-time title challenger Jonathan Inguito Taconing from the Philippines on December 4 last year in front of his home crowd. His knockout-to-win rate was 33%.

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Considering the severity of his condition, we urge all our readers to join the entire EssentiallySports community in offering prayers for Kazuki Anaguchi’s recovery.

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