Kona Kato

Kona Kato
Born加藤虎於奈
(1996-03-21) March 21, 1996 (age 28)
Iruma, Saitama, Japan
NicknameThe Natural
NationalityJapanese
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight67.5 kg (149 lb; 10.63 st)
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofTagajō, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
TeamTeam Top Zeros/Lara Tokyo
Years active2017 - present
Kickboxing record
Total11
Wins7
By knockout3
Losses4
By knockout1
Other information
Notable relativesLeona Pettas (brother)

Kona Kato (Japanese: 加藤虎於奈, Kato Kona, born March 23, 1996) is a Japanese kickboxer, currently competing in the welterweight division of K-1. A professional competitor since 2017, Kato is the former Krush welterweight champion.

As of September 2022, Combat Press ranks him as the tenth best super featherweight kickboxer in the world.[1]

Kickboxing career

Early career

Kato made his professional debut against Kaito at Krush 83 on December 9, 2017. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[2] This victory earned Kato his K-1 debut, which took place against Ruku Kojima at K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 on March 21, 2018. He lost the fight by a narrow unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29.[3]

After suffering his first professional loss, Kato was booked to face Kazuma Takekoshi at Krush 90 on July 22, 2018. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[4] Kato next face Kaito in a rematch at Krush 97 on January 26, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–26 and 30–27.[5] Kato's two-fight winning streak was snapped by Chunyu Zhang, who beat him by unanimous decision at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103 on July 21, 2019.[6]

Kato faced the former Krush welterweight titleholder and two-time welterweight title challenger Keita Makihira at K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109 on December 15, 2019. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[7][8]

Kato was expected to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 116 on August 29, 2020, in the semifinals of the 2020 Krush welterweight tournament. He was forced to withdraw due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Kazuki Yamagiwa.[9] Kato was rescheduled to face Riki Matsuoka at Krush 119 on November 27, 2020.[10] Matsuoka was disqualified from the bout at the 2:42 minute mark of the second round, after he threw an illegal knee inside of the clinch.[11]

Krush welterweight champion

His two-fight winning streak earned Kato the right to challenge the reigning Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) champion Kazuki Yamagiwa, in what was the champion's first title defense. The title bout headlined Krush 121, which took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on January 23, 2021.[12] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 30–26 for Kato, while the last judge scored the bout 30–27 in his favor. Kato knocked his opponent down with a left hook late in the third round, but was unable to finish him before the fight ended.[13]

Kato made his first Krush title defense against Riki Matsuoka in the main event of Krush 124 on April 23, 2021. The bout was a rematch of their November 27, 2020, fight, which ended in a disqualification win for Kato, due to an illegal clinch knee.[14] He failed to repeat his success however, as Matsuoka won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28.[15]

Post title reign

Kato was expected to face the former K-1 World GP Super Lightweight Champion Masaaki Noiri in the quarterfinals of the 2021 K-1 Welterweight World Grand Prix at K-1 World GP 2021: Yokohamatsuri on September 20, 2021. He was forced to withdraw after contracting COVID-19 and was replaced by FUMIYA.[16] Kota was rescheduled to face Noiri, the newly crowned K-1 welterweight champion, at K-1: K'Festa 5 on April 3, 2022.[17] He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout, as his corner threw in the towel in the final minute of the round. It was the first stoppage loss of Kato's professional career.[18]

Kato faced Koki at Krush 146 on February 25, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 29–28 and 29–27.[19]

Championships and accomplishments

Professional

Amateur

  • 2013 REBELS BLOW CUP "Best Fight" Award (vs. Yusuke Ami)[20]
  • 2013 Shin Karate G-1 Grand Prix Light Middleweight Runner-up[21]
  • 2014 J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament Winner[22]
  • 2014 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament Runner-up[23]
  • 2017 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament Winner and Tournament MVP[24]

Fight record

Professional Kickboxing Record
7 Wins (3 (T)KO's), 4 Loss, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2023-02-25 Win Japan Koki Krush 146 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-04-03 Loss Japan Masaaki Noiri K-1: K'Festa 5 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Corner stoppage) 2 2:17
2021-04-23 Loss Japan Riki Matsuoka Krush 124 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Lost the Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) title.
2021-01-23 Win Japan Kazuki Yamagiwa Krush 121 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Won the Krush Welterweight (-67.5 kg) title.
2020-11-27 Win Japan Riki Matsuoka Krush 119 Tokyo, Japan DQ (Illegal knee) 2 2:42
2019-12-15 Win Japan Keita Makihira K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 109 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Punches) 2 2:48
2019-07-21 Loss China Chunyu Zhang K-1 KRUSH FIGHT 103 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-01-26 Win Japan Kaito Krush 97 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-07-22 Win Japan Kazuma Takekoshi Krush 90 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Three knockdowns) 1 1:29
2018-03-21 Loss Japan Ruku Kojima K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2017-12-09 Win Japan Kaito Krush 83 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2017-09-03 Win Japan Eiji Yoshida K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
Won the 2017 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament title.
2017-09-03 Win Japan Akira Shirahama K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2017-09-03 Win Japan Tatsuro Yoshida K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2014-08-03 Win Japan Motohiro Ito BLOW-CUP 30 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00
2014-07-21 Loss Japan Yasunaga Miyamoto K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Finals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Split) 3 2:00
For the 2014 K-1 Challenge A-Class -70 kg Tournament title.
2014-07-21 Win Japan Daichi Nonaka K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Semifinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2014-07-21 Win Japan Ryuhei Mishima K-1 Challenge A-Class Super Welterweight Tournament, Quarterfinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 2:00
2014-02-09 Win Japan Yasunaga Miyamoto J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Finals Tokyo, Japan Ext. R. Decision (Split) 2 3:00
Won the 2014 J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament title.
2014-02-09 Win Japan Ryuhei Mishima J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Semifinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 1 3:00
2014-02-09 Win Japan Naoki Kobayashi J-NETWORK All Japan Light Middleweight Tournament, Quarterfinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 1 3:00
2013-09-22 Win Japan Keima Saito BLOW-CUP 20 Tokyo, Japan KO 1 0:48
2013-03-03 Loss Japan Pan Ryunson BLOW-CUP 14 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00
2013-03-03 Win Japan Yusuke Ami BLOW-CUP 14 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 2:00
2012-02-12 Win Japan Kazuhiro Suzuki BLOW-CUP 2 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

  1. ^ Aittama, Zach. "Combat Press Kickboxing Rankings: September 2022". combatpress.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  2. ^ "krush.83 試合結果！". bungelingbay.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. ^ "武尊が3階級制覇「戦いたい奴はK-1に来い。逃げも隠れもしない」【3・21 K-1】". tokyoheadline.com. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  4. ^ "【Krush】日本が6勝1敗で中国との対抗戦に勝ち越し。大将・卜部弘嵩は復帰戦で判定勝ち。左右田泰臣、レオナ・ペタスが殊勲のKO勝利＝7.22「Krush.90」". note.com. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  5. ^ "【Krush】3人の新王者が誕生！ 江川優生「蹴ってからパンチ、パンチから蹴りのイメージだった」、鈴木勇人「左目が見えなくても自分の武器を信じて戦った」、晃貴「武尊くんに肩車してもらって撮るのが夢だった」＝1月26日 (土）「Krush.97」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  6. ^ "武林风中日对抗赛，目前武林风战队2:2日本队". twgreatdaily.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  7. ^ "王者となった兄・レオナに刺激受け「ベルト欲しくなった」。気持ち新たに挑む"KRUSH王座"への道【K-1ファイター 加藤虎於奈】". king-gear.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  8. ^ "レオナ・ぺタス、加藤虎於奈が兄弟でKO競演 兄は武尊戦、弟は木村ミノル戦を大アピール". times.abema.tv. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  9. ^ "【Krush】トーナメント出場4選手が計量パス、近藤魁成「衝撃的なKOでチャンピオンになります」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Krush 11.27 後楽園ホール：フェザー級＆女子アトム級、王座目指す6選手ら計量クリア。玖村修平「レベルの差を見せる」". boutreview.com. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  11. ^ "【Krush】加藤虎於奈、タイトル挑戦を実現させて「1月23日、24日は加藤兄弟の日にしたい」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  12. ^ "【Krush】加藤虎於奈が山際和希の王座に挑戦、兄・レオナと揃っての戴冠目指す＝1.23". efight.jp. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  13. ^ "【Krush】加藤虎於奈が兄レオナ・ペタスと兄弟王者に、山際からダウン奪い快勝". efight.jp. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. ^ "【Krush】王者・加藤虎於奈と挑戦者・松岡力、親友同士の二人は共に「明日は倒す」". efight.jp. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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  16. ^ "【K-1】急遽本戦繰り上がり出場のFUMIYAが打倒・野杁正明に自信「僕の戦い方は普通のスタイルじゃない」". gonkaku.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  17. ^ "【K-1】野杁正明「レベルが違う、それを証明するだけ」加藤虎於奈「予想をひっくり返せるのが自分」=4.3". efight.jp. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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  20. ^ "【試合結果】アマチュアREBELS大会「BLOW-CUP.14」". livedoor.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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  23. ^ "第１回 K-1 CHALLENGE 2014". k-1.co.jp. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  24. ^ "第18回K-1アマチュア チャレンジAクラス -70kgトーナメント 決勝 加藤虎於奈". k-1.co.jp. Retrieved 8 September 2022.