In the Tokyo Olympics, boxing men's welterweight, Sewon Okazawa lost the decision to Cuban players in the second round.
At the Tokyo Olympics, boxing men's welterweight Okazawa played against Cuban players in the second round on the 27th.
In the first round, Okazawa hit a powerful punch and gave the match an edge.
From the second round onward, the scene where the opponent received a punch that made use of his light footwork was conspicuous.
Okazawa lost to the Cuban player 2 to 3 and did not break through the second round.
"I felt that my drawers were scarce."
Okazawa said, "I'm sorry for the people who supported me. The opponent was hitting a better punch. I used all my drawers in the first round and felt that there were few drawers." talked.
He added, "It's a stage that various people have created in such a situation. I wanted to give back the result, but I'm sorry that I couldn't do it."
Strong commitment to amateur boxing
Boxing is 3 minutes for 3 rounds for amateurs.
The key to the game is how to stack the effective hits that are the key points in a short time.
Meanwhile, the men's professional world title match is 3 minutes and 12 rounds.
It is no exaggeration to say that it is a different competition from a professional who is highly evaluated for the damage done to his opponent.
In that amateur boxing, Sewon Okazawa has emerged with a skillful defense that does not allow the opponent's punches to be effective.
Ryota Murata, who won the gold medal at the London Olympic Games, turned professional and became the world champion.
World champion Naoya Inoue, who is now expected to unify the titles of the four major groups, has now passed through his amateur days when he won seven titles in high school.
Okazawa is different from these star players who have advanced from amateurs to professionals.
Okazawa says, "The feeling that I like amateur boxing is the most driving force."
In the introductory text of my SNS, I write "Amaboku for a lifetime".
"Amaboku" means "amateur boxing".
From the word "lifetime", we can see a strong commitment to amateur boxing.
"I want you to know the fun that professionals don't have."
"Everywhere I went, I was told that I wouldn't be a professional, and I couldn't get an understanding of the competition, and I was frustrated for a long time. ..
With the cooperation of local supporters, about 20 companies will support Okazawa as a sponsor from this spring.
I have devoted myself to the competition without worrying financially.
Still, my position is an amateur boxer.
This is because it is natural for athletes who have a proven track record as amateurs to turn professional, and I think that "amateur boxing" has something interesting that professionals do not have.
Okazawa says, "The sense of speed and technical ability in a short time of 3 minutes and 3 rounds is interesting that professionals do not have."
The number of rounds is relatively large, and the tension that is different from that of a professional who can watch the opponent is driving Okazawa to the ring.
This Tokyo Olympics is being held in an extremely unusual way, such as being postponed for the first time in history with the new coronavirus.
Okazawa was enthusiastic, "I want various people to know about amateur boxing on the stage of the Olympics."
"I definitely want to come back to the Paris tournament"
For Japanese boxing boys, he was aiming to win a medal for the first time in two tournaments since the 2012 London Games, but this time he was eliminated in the second round.
After the match, I asked Okazawa, "How do you want to make use of this experience in the future?" After a few seconds of silence, he said, "I want to get stronger and definitely come back to the next Paris tournament."
Okazawa who came up to the ring with strong "amateur love".
I am prepared to relieve this regrettable feeling at the next Olympics.