Yoshiki Takei

Yoshiki Takei (born July 12, 1996, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese professional boxer and former kickboxer who currently holds the WBO bantamweight title, a belt he won in May 2024. Before transitioning to boxing, Takei enjoyed a decorated kickboxing career, where he captured the K-1 Super Bantamweight Championship and won the prestigious K-1 World Grand Prix tournaments in both 2017 and 2019. By the time he retired from kickboxing in 2020, he was regarded as the top fighter at 55kg and ranked among the world’s best pound-for-pound competitors.

Takei turned professional in boxing later that same year, joining the Ohashi Gym under the guidance of former world champion Akira Yaegashi. He made an immediate impact, blasting through opponents with a southpaw stance and heavy knockout power. In his ninth professional bout, Takei shocked the boxing world when he defeated Jason Moloney at the Tokyo Dome on May 6, 2024, capturing the WBO bantamweight world title by unanimous decision. With that victory, he became one of the fastest Japanese fighters to win a world title in boxing.

As champion, Takei successfully defended his belt against Daigo Higa in September 2024, showcasing not only his power but also his ability to manage a fight over the distance. After overcoming an injury setback later that year, he returned to the ring in May 2025, where he stopped Yuttapong Tongdee with a first-round knockout in Yokohama, further cementing his reign as one of the most dangerous punchers in the division.