Tsubasa Kaneko (Japanese: 金子翼, Kaneko Tsubasa, born April 3, 1996) is a Japanese kickboxer, better known by his ring name Tsubasa. He currently competes in the super flyweight division of RISE. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he was ranked as the fourth best flyweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.[1][2]
Professional kickboxing career
SNKA & JKA
Tsubasa made his professional debut against Yuma Sano at JKA "KICK Insist 6" on November 6, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[3] Next year, at SNKA "WINNERS 2017 2nd" on May 14, Tsubasa would fight to a career first decision draw against Kyohei Furumura.[4]
Tsubasa faced Tetsu Ittokan at KICK Insist 8 on November 11, 2018. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[5] Tsubasa won all four of his fights in 2019 as well, as he knocked out Kazuya Kato on January 6,[6] and Ryohei Tanaka on May 12,[7] and was able to overcome both Ryuji Ebihara on August 4,[8] and Ryohei Tanaka in a vacant JKA Bantamweight title bout on November 9, by unanimous decision.[9]
Tsubasa was expected to face Ikko Ota at KICK Insist 10 on March 15, 2020, in a "JKA vs. NJKF" themed bout. The entire event was later postponed until November 22, due to measures implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Tsubasa lost the fight by unanimous decision.[10][11]
Tsubasa faced the WMC Japan Super Bantamweight champion Yugo Kato in a non-title bout at NO KICK NO LIFE on July 22, 2021. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[12]
RISE
Tsubasa made his RISE promotional debut against the WMC Intercontinental bantamweight champion Atsumu at RISE 155 on February 23, 2022.[13] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[14] Tsubasa next faced Kyosuke at RISE 156 on March 27, 2022.[15] Kyosuke won the fight by a second-round technical knockout, handing Tsubasa the first stoppage loss of his professional career.
Tsubasa faced the #2 ranked RISE super flyweight contender Ryu Hanaoka at RISE World Series 2022 on October 15, 2022. He won the fight by an upset technical decision.[16][17] The bout was stopped four seconds before the end of the second round, due to an accidental clash of heads which left a cut above Tsubasa's right eye.[18]
Tsubasa faced Shuto Sato at RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS, an event co-promoted by RISE with Glory and Shootboxing, on December 25, 2022.[19] He lost the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[20]
Tsubasa faced Kaito Hasegawa at RISE 170 on July 30, 2023. He lost the fight by a first-round knockout.[21]
Tsubasa faced Shuto Sato at SHOOT BOXING 2023 Series Final on November 14, 2023. He lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[22]