Kyo Kawakami

Kyo Kawakami (川上 叶) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is the former Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight and Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight champion.

As of October 2022, he is ranked as the ninth best bantamweight in the world by Beyond Kick.

Early career
Kawakami had a notable amateur career which saw him winning multiple titles including the Shoot Boxing All Japan in 2015. in 2016 he won the WBC Muay Thai All Japan Junior League title and was elected MVP of the event, as a reward he received a one month trip to Thailand.

Kawakami made his professional debut against Syuto Sato at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2016 “Alpinisme vol.1” on August 13, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round standing choke submission. He won his next bout against Tsubasa Onishi at SHOOT BOXING Young Caesar Cup Central 18 on October 2, 2016, by stoppage as well, before being booked to face the unbeaten Koudai at SHOOT BOXING 2017 act.1 on February 11, 2017. He lost the fight by a second-round knockout.

Kawakami faced Kazuyuki Fushimi at SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.1 on February 10, 2018, in his first fight of the year. He won the bout by a flying knee knockout, at the 1:10 minute mark of the fourth round. Kawakami next faced Jin Uehira at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2018 “Alpinisme” vol.1 on March 18, 2018. He needed just 79 seconds to stop Uehira with a body shot. Kawakami extended his winning streak to three consecutive fights with an extra round split decision win over Toshiyuki Nitamizu at SHOOT BOXING 2017 Young Caesar Cup Central 22 on May 20, 2018, in the quarterfinals of the Shootboxing bantamweight tournament.

Kawakami's three fight winning streak was snapped by the undefeated Yuki Kasahara at SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.4, who beat him by a first-round knockout, handing Kawakami his second career stoppage loss and eliminating him from the bantamweight tournament. Kawakami was next booked to face Keito Naito at SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2019 “Alpinisme” vol.1 on August 10, 2019. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 30–29.

Shootboxing bantamweight champion
On November 11, 2019, Kawakami faced Syuto Sato for the inaugural Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight title at Shoot Boxing 2019 Young Caesar Cup Central #26. He won the fight by a second-round knockout, as he floored Sato with a left cross.

On November 14, 2020, Kawakami faced the reigning RISE super flyweight champion Kazuki Osaki in a non-title bout at RISE 143. He lost by unanimous decision.

Kawakami was scheduled to face the Yuki Kyotani at Rise World Series 2021 Osaka on July 18, 2021, in Osaka. He won the fight by unanimous decision, the three judges scoring the bout 30–29 in his favor.

Featherweight
Kawakami faced Kotaro Yamada at SHOOT BOXING 2021 Young Caesar Cup on December 19, 2021, in his first bout at the featherweight (-57.5kg) limit. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds, with all three judges scoring the fight 29–29. Accordingly an extension round was fought, after which Kawakami was awarded a unanimous decision.

Kawakami faced Kaito for the vacant Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title at Shoot Boxing 2022 act.2 on April 10, 2022. He won the fight by majority decision, after an extra round was contested.

Kawakami faced Haruto Yasumoto at RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS on December 25, 2022, in what was his third appearance with RISE. The bout was ruled a unanimous decision draw after the first three rounds, with all three judges scoring it 30–30. Kawakami was awarded a majority decision, after an extra fourth round was fought.

Kawakami faced Gaopayak Y'zdgym at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.1 on February 12, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–29, 30–29 and 30–27.

Kawakami made his first Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title defense against Kotaro Yamada at SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.2 on April 30, 2023. He lost the fight by majority decision, with two judges awarding Yamada a narrow 50–49 scorecard, while the third judge scored the contest an even 50–50.

Kawakami faced the RISE featherweight champion Keisuke Monguchi in a non-title bout at RISE World Series 2023 - 1st Round on July 2, 2023. He lost the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the bout 30–28 and 30–29 for Monguchi, while the third ringside official scored it an even 29–29.

Kawakami faced Toma Tanabe at K-1 ReBIRTH 2 on December 9, 2023. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–28, after knocking Toma down once in the second round.

Kawakami was expected to face Ryusei Kumagai at KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.1 on February 25, 2023. The bout was postponed for KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.2 on April 27, 2024, as Ryusei withdrew due to illness on February 23. The fight was reschedule for KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.2 on April 27, 2024. Kawakami lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional

 * SHOOT BOXING
 * 2019 Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight Champion
 * 2022 Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight Champion

Amateur

 * 2014 Green Boy Fight Welterweight Champion
 * 2015 Glove Karate Federation All Japan Championship -55kg Winner
 * 2015 Shoot Boxing All Japan -55kg Champion
 * 2016 WBC Muay Thai All Japan Jr League (U-18) -55kg Champion & Event MVP

Fight record

 * - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
 * 2024-04-27 || Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Ryusei|| KNOCK OUT 2024 vol.2 || Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
 * 2023-12-09|| Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Toma || K-1 ReBIRTH 2 || Osaka, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) ||3 ||3:00


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 2023-07-02|| Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Keisuke Monguchi|| RISE World Series 2023 - 1st Round || Osaka, Japan ||Decision (Majority)|| 3||3:00

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Loses the Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title.
 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 2023-04-30|| Loss || align=left|🇯🇵 Kotaro Yamada || SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.2|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Majority) || 5||3:00


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2023-02-12 || Win ||align=left|🇹🇭 Gaopayak Y'zdgym || SHOOT BOXING 2023 act.1|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2022-12-25|| Win ||align=left|🇯🇵 Haruto Yasumoto || RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS 2022|| Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R Decision (Majority) || 4 || 3:00

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant Shoot Boxing Japan Featherweight title.
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2022-04-10|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Kaito Sakaguchi || SHOOT BOXING 2022 act.2|| Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R Decision (Majority) ||6 ||3:00


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2021-12-19 || Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Kotaro Yamada || SHOOT BOXING 2021 Young Caesar Cup || Tokyo, Japan ||Ext.R Decision (Split) || 4 || 3:00


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2021-07-18 || Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Yuki Kyotani || RISE World Series 2021 Osaka || Osaka, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
 * 2020-11-14 || Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Kazuki Osaki || RISE 143 || Tokyo, Japan||Decision (Unanimous)|| 3 || 3:00

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the inaugural Shoot Boxing Japan Bantamweight title.
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2019-11-24|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Shuto Sato || SHOOT BOXING 2019 Young Caesar Cup Central 26|| Kasugai, Aichi, Japan || KO (Left cross) ||2 ||2:58


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2019-08-10 || Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Keito Naito ||SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2019 “Alpinisme” vol.1 || Osaka, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
 * 2018-09-15 || Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Yuki Kasahara || SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.4 - Championship Tournament Semi Final || Tokyo, Japan ||KO (Left cross) || 1 || 3:00


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2018-05-20 || Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Toshiyuki Nitamizu ||SHOOT BOXING 2017 Young Caesar Cup Central 22 - Championship Tournament Quarter Final || Aichi prefecture, Japan || Ext.R Decision (Split) || 4 || 3:00


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2018-03-18|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Jin Uehira ||	SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2018 “Alpinisme” vol.1|| Osaka, Japan || KO (Body shot) ||1 ||1:19


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2018-02-10|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Kazuyuki Fushimi || SHOOT BOXING 2018 act.1|| Tokyo, Japan || Ext.R KO (Flying knee) ||4 ||1:10


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 2017-10-15|| Loss || align=left|🇯🇵 Hiroaki Okuwa || SHOOT BOXING 2017 Young Caesar Cup Central 21|| Kasugai, Aichi, Japan || Decision (Unanimous) ||3 ||3:00


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
 * 2017-05-28|| Loss ||align=left|🇯🇵 Itsuki Kobori || HIGHSPEED 2017 ～STATUS～|| Osaka, Japan || Decision (Split) || 3 || 3:00


 * - style="background:#fbb;"
 * 2017-03-11|| Loss || align=left|🇯🇵 Genki Takeno || SHOOT BOXING 2017 Young Caesar Cup act.1|| Tokyo, Japan || Decision (Majority) ||3 ||3:00


 * - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"
 * 2017-02-11 || Loss||align=left|🇯🇵 Koudai || SHOOT BOXING 2017 act.1|| Tokyo, Japan || KO (Right cross) || 2 || 2:02


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2016-10-02|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Tsubasa Onishi || SHOOT BOXING Young Caesar Cup Central 18|| Kasugai, Aichi, Japan || KO || 3 ||


 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * 2016-08-13|| Win || align=left|🇯🇵 Shuto Sato || SHOOT BOXING Osaka 2016 “Alpinisme vol.1”|| Osaka, Japan || TKO (Standing choke) || 3 ||1:00
 * colspan=9 | Legend:
 * colspan=9 | Legend: