Akihiko Honda Transcends Boxing Into a Global Sport
Posted by Igor Frank on 10.09.2008
Akihiko Honda is going to be inducted into a World Boxing Hall Of Fame on Saturday, November 15th during annual banquet at LAX Marriot hotel in Los Angeles, California.
Honda on the left
Akihiko Honda was born on September 9, 1947. His father was Akira Honda, who was the most powerful and influential boxing promoter of his time. In 1964, after an unexpected passing of his father Akihiko Honda at the age of 17 became the President of Teiken Promotions, the oldest boxing gym in Japan. While serving as the President of Teiken, Honda managed to graduate from Rikkyo University in 1969. Carrying on the Boxing Promotion and Managing Business his father had started, Honda has successfully transformed Teiken Promotions into the most successful and influential boxing Promotional company in Japan.
In 1988, Honda successfully promoted Mike Tyson vs. Tony Tubbs at the Tokyo Dome, in the venue's inaugural event. He has also promoted the historical upset bout of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas in 1990. Honda currently promotes world title boxing promotions world wide including high profile world title fights in Japan televised on Nippon Television. Honda also promotes two monthly promotions for Nippon Television at the Korakuen Hall, a show that has been running for over 30 years. In 1991 Honda would also become the exclusive program contents provider for a weekly two-hour boxing program for WOWOW, the leading premium subscriber television network in Japan. Over 16 years later the program is still on the air with best boxing matches from around the world hand picked by Honda.
In the area of fighter management, Honda has brought up numerous world champions. Some of the other fighters on the long list of champions he has managed include WBA Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba, WBA and WBC Super Flyweight Champion Jiro Watanabe, WBC Light Welterweight Champion Tsuyoshi Hamada, two time World Champion Genaro Hernandez, WBA Flyweight Champion David Griman, WBC Super Flyweight Champion Jose Luis Bueno, WBA Featherweight Eloy Rojas, three time World Champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. Honda currently manages highly anticipated young superstar prospects, 26 year old WBA Super Featherweight Champion Edwin Valero, 23 year old WBC Featherweight Champion Jorge Linares, and 21 year old WBA Minimum weight Champion Roman Gonzales. Also in Honda's stable of current world champions are WBC Interim Super Bantamweight Champion Toshiaki Nishioka, and WBC Bantamweight Hozumi Hasegawa from Japan.
Referred to as the most "Honorable man in Boxing", by his peers, Honda's reputation as a trustworthy promoter can be confirmed by any of the boxing industry people he has worked with around the world. Honda has also set a new set of standards for hospitality in his promotions in Japan for visiting fighters, fighter camps, officials and guest. Honda contributions to boxing, goes beyond his role as a promoter. He has made enormous contributions to the boxing industry. Honda's generosity towards boxer's world wide is
legendary in the industry. He has been recognized in his efforts to assist the boxing conventions around the world including 2002 WBC's first convention in Tokyo as well as WBA's first convention in Japan.
However, the most impressive quality of Honda is his philosophy towards his fighters; Honda believes that in his gym fighters should be brought up as not just boxers but as people, with social skills for life after boxing.
Akihiko Honda is being inducted in World Boxing Hall Of Fame on November 15th, 2008 at the Banquet of Champions at LAX Marriott, located at 5855 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90045. Social hour will begin at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner and induction ceremony at 8:00 pm.
Dinner tickets are priced at $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00. For ticket information and all the details call: (626) 964-2414 or visit official website at www.wbhf.org.
A nonprofit organization based in California, World Boxing Hall Of Fame is dedicated to preserving and honoring boxing and its history.
For ticket or sponsorship information call: (626) 964-2414.
