Top Rank Inks Japanese Gold Medalist Ryota Murata

Top Rank, Inc. has announced the signing of Japanese Olympic gold medalist, middleweight, Ryota Murata. Murata is a 27-year-old orthodox-stance fighter who was the first Japanese boxer to win a gold medal at middleweight, when he won gold at the 2012 Olympic games in London. Murata’s amateur record is said to have been 119-19. Top Rank will promote Murata’s fights outside of Japan, including when he fights in Singapore(as Top Rank has plans for shows there) and here in the United States. Murata’s Japanese-based co-promoter, Teiken Boxing, will handle promotional duties for his fights in Japan. Murata will make his debut and campaign at the middleweight limit of 160-pounds. Top Rank’s Bob Arum says Murata’s popularity and style topped with a gold medal are what made the deal a no brainer. He believes that Murata could eventually fight the top names in the middleweight division, including Sergio Martinez, Gennady Golovkin and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., among others. President of Top Rank, Todd DuBoef said of Murata and his marketability, “He is a good looking guy, he’s big, he’s physical the way he fights and he speaks a little bit of English already.”

The Boxing Tribune will keep you posted on Murata’s professional debut under the Top Rank promotional banner as details are announced.

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