Riku Morisaka

Riku Morisaka
Born森坂 陸
(1998-04-15) April 15, 1998 (age 26)
Yokohama, Japan
Other namesBlue Butterfly
NationalityJapanese
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight57.5 kg (127 lb; 9.05 st)
DivisionSuper Flyweight
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamAce Gym
Years active2015 - 2023
Kickboxing record
Total34
Wins17
By knockout3
Losses15
By knockout1
Draws2
No contests0

Riku Morisaka (Japanese: 森坂 陸, Morisaka Riku, born April 15, 1998) is a retired Japanese kickboxer, who fought out of Tokyo, Japan. He is a former Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) champion.

Beyond Kick ranked him as the ninth best -58 kg kickboxer in the world between April and July 2023.[1][2]

Kickboxing career

Super bantamweight

Morisaka made his professional debut against Takumi at Syuken 27 on October 25, 2015. He won the fight by unanimous decision and amassed a 4–3–1 record over the next two years, before being placed in the KHAOS super bantamweight tournament, which was scheduled to take place at KHAOS 2 on July 8, 2017.[3] Although Morisaka was able to overcome the future Krush and K-1 featherweight champion Yuki Egawa by split decision in the semifinals of the one-day tournament,[4] he lost the final bout against Shota Oiwa by unanimous decision.[5] It was his second career loss at the hands of Oiwa, as he had previously beaten him by unanimous decision at Syuken 30 on February 11, 2016.[6]

On May 26, 2018, Morisaka faced another future K-1 featherweight champion in Tatsuya Tsubakihara at KHAOS 5.[7] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[8] Four months later, at Krush 93 on September 30, 2018, Morisaka was booked to face Taito Gunji in the quarterfinals of the Krush Super Bantamweight tournament.[9] He lost the fight by majority decision, with two of the judges scoring the fight 30-28 for Gunji, while the third judge scored it 30-30.[10]

Featherweight

Move up in weight

Morisaka took part in the one-day Krush featherweight tournament, held to fill the vacant throne, at Krush 119 on November 27, 2019. He faced Keito Okajima in the semifinals and won the fight by a third-round technical knockout, knocking Okajima down twice by the 2:58 minute mark of the round. In the tournament final Morisaka faced Takahito Niimi. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds were fought, with two of the judges scoring the bout as a draw (29-29 and 30-30), while the third judge scored it 30–29 in Niimi's favor. Accordingly, an extension rounds was fought, after which Niimi won a unanimous decision.[11][12]

Morisaka was scheduled to rematch Taito Gunji at K-1: K'Festa 4 Day 1 on March 21, 2021.[13] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–27, 30-26 and 30–26.[14]

Morisaka faced Toma Tanabe at K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka on December 4, 2021. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[15]

Morisaka faced Haruma Saikyo at K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri on September 11, 2022, in what was Saikyo's return to professional competition following a close to three-year absence from the sport.[16] He won the fight by split decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.[17]

Morisaka faced the once-defeated Rei Inagaki at Krush 144 on December 18, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 30–29 scorecard.[18]

Krush champion

Morisaka challenged Shuhei Kumura for his Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) title at Krush 147 on March 25, 2023.[19] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 29–28. Morisaka knocked his opponent down with a spinning backfist in the opening round of the contest.[20]

Morisaka faced the former K-1 featherweight champion Tatsuya Tsubakihara at K-1 World GP 2023 in Yokohama on June 3, 2023.[21] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 30–29.[22]

Morisaka made his first Krush Featherweight title defense against Tatsuki Shinotsuka at Krush 154 on October 21, 2023.[23] He lost the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 29–29.[24]

He announced his retirement from the sport of kickboxing on October 28, 2023.[25]

Titles and accomplishments

Fight record

Kickboxing record
17 Wins (3 (T)KOs), 15 Losses, 2 Draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2024-06-23 Loss Japan Haruto Matsumoto Krush 162 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Doctor stoppage) 2 3:00
2023-10-21 Loss Japan Tatsuki Shinotsuka Krush 154 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
Loses the Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) title.
2023-06-03 Loss Japan Tatsuya Tsubakihara K-1 World GP 2023: inaugural Middleweight Championship Tournament Yokohama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2023-03-25 Win Japan Shuhei Kumura Krush 147 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Wins the Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) title.
2022-12-18 Win Japan Rei Inagaki Krush 144 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-09-11 Win Japan Haruma Saikyo K-1 World GP 2022 Yokohamatsuri Yokohama, Japan Ext.R Decision (Split) 4 3:00
2022-07-30 Win Japan Yusho Kanemoto Krush 139 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-04-30 Win Japan Masaki Takeuchi Krush 136 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2021-12-04 Loss Japan Toma K-1 World GP 2021 in Osaka Osaka, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-03-21 Loss Japan Taito Gunji K-1: K'Festa 4 Day 1 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-11-27 Loss Japan Takahito Niimi Krush 119, Featherweight Championship Tournament Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
For the Krush Featherweight (-57.5kg) title.
2020-11-27 Win Japan Keito Okajima Krush 119, Featherweight Championship Tournament Semi-Final Tokyo, Japan TKO (2 Knockdowns/backfist) 3 2:58
2020-09-26 Win Japan Rikiya Yamaura Krush 117 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-07-11 Win Japan Masaki Krush 114 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-11-08 Loss Japan Takahiro Krush 107 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-08-31 Loss Japan Tenma Sano Krush 104 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-06-21 Draw Japan Naoki Takahashi Krush 102 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-05-18 Win Japan Masafumi Kurasaki Krush 101 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2019-03-10 Win Japan Yuto Kuroda K-1 World GP 2019: K’FESTA 2 Saitama, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-12-16 Win Japan Shoya Masumoto Krush 96 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-09-30 Loss Japan Taito Gunji Krush.93, Tournament Quarterfinals Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2018-05-26 Loss Japan Tatsuya Tsubakihara KHAOS.5 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2018-01-27 Loss Japan Yusho Kanemoto Krush 84 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-10-01 Win Japan Takaya Ogura Krush 81 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2017-07-08 Loss Japan Shota Oiwa KHAOS.3, Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Unanimous) 4 3:00
2017-07-08 Win Japan Yuki Egawa KHAOS.3, Semi-Final Tokyo, Japan Ext.R Decision (Split) 4 3:00
2017-05-13 Loss Japan Reito Bravely KHAOS.2 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2017-01-29 Win Japan Hokuto Syuken 34 Tokyo, Japan KO (Left hook to the body) 3 1:35
2016-10-16 Draw Japan Takaya Ogura Syuken 32 Tokyo, Japan Decision 3 3:00
2016-07-03 Loss Japan Kodia Kusaka NJKF DUEL 7 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2016-05-01 Win Japan Ryo “440” Ida Syuken 31 Tokyo, Japan KO (Spinning back fist) 3 1:36
2016-02-11 Loss Japan Shota Oiwa Syuken 30 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2015-12-06 Win Japan Kenshin Uesugi Syuken 28 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2015-10-25 Win Japan Takumi Syuken 27 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
2015-04-12 Win Japan Tadahiro Hayashi Shin Kakutougi Tokyo, Japan Decision (split)
2015-01-31 Win Japan Kouki Nonuoi Syuken Amateur 24 Tokyo, Japan Decision (unanimous)
2014-11-30 Draw Japan Masayasu Syuken Amateur Tokyo, Japan Decision (split)
2014-09-28 Win Japan Tetsuji Otsu Syuken Amateur 20 Tokyo, Japan Decision (unanimous)
2014-05-25 Win Japan Seigo Matsunaga Syuken Amateur Tokyo, Japan Decision (majority)
2014-02-23 Draw Japan Teppei Yoshida Syuken Amateur 16 Tokyo, Japan Decision
2014-02-23 Loss Japan Naotaka Syuken Amateur 16 Tokyo, Japan Decision
2013-11-24 Win Japan Takuya Rajasaklek All Japan Amateur Kick 3 Tokyo, Japan Decision
2013-09-29 Loss Japan Tsubasa Okamoto Syuken Amateur 16 Tokyo, Japan Decision
2013-07-28 Win Japan Yuki Nagamine Syuken Amateur 11 Tokyo, Japan Decision (majority)
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also

References

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  2. ^ "Kickboxing Rankings July 2023". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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  5. ^ "「KHAOS.3」大岩がファイトマネー＆MVP＆ベストバウトを総取り". tokyoheadline.com. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  6. ^ "【蹴拳】松田玲奈がハイキックで鮮やかTKO勝ち「今後は倒す試合を見せたい」". efight.jp. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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  8. ^ Aittama, Zach. "KHAOS.5 Results: Wajima Faceplants Jinbo, Tsubakihara Defeats Morisaka". combatpress.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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  10. ^ Aittama, Zach. "Krush.93 Results: Gonnapar Defends Lightweight Title, Pikeur Edges Wajima". combatpress.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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  16. ^ "西京春馬が2年10カ月ぶりに復帰「自分のスタイルは曲げずにいく」【K-1】". tokyoheadline.com. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  17. ^ "【K1】西京春馬２年10カ月ぶり復帰戦飾れず「スタミナが切れた」森坂陸に延長判定で敗れる". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Krush 12.18 後楽園ホール（レポ）：中島千博、西元也史から左フックでダウン奪いスーパー・フェザー級王座初防衛。山本直樹、野田哲司をボディでKO。フェザー級の森坂陸が4連勝". boutreview.com. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
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  21. ^ "K-1 6.3 横浜武道館：金子晃大＆与座優貴はヨーロッパ勢と、黒田斗真＆池田幸司はタイ勢と対戦。椿原龍矢×森坂陸、壬生狼一輝×白幡裕星、大久保琉唯×齊藤龍之介も決定". boutreview.com. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
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  26. ^ "【K-1】MVPには金子晃大が輝く、最高試合賞に玖村vs.鈴木真彦、技能賞はリュウ・ツァー、敢闘賞に菅原美優、殊勲周夫は松倉信太郎、Krush MVPに稲垣柊、Krush最高..." ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 9 February 2024.