Boxing is a sport defined by its practitioners.
Not just for their skill or their athleticism or their heart, but for their character, their personality and their style.
No fighter, at least in Japan, would define this more than Toshiharu Kaneyama, better known by his boxing alias of Crazy Kim.
Heavy-handed and exciting to watch, with an eccentric flair to match, Crazy Kim was a staple of domestic Japanese boxing throughout the 2000’s.
Known for his brutal, engaging wars with Nobuhiro Ishida (27-11-2) and Hiroyuki Yoshino (36-14-1), Crazy Kim would establish himself at super welterweight, whilst also taking brave ventures into the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
At one point, Kim had unified the Japanese Boxing Commission and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation Super Welterweight titles, also having held the WBC Asian Super Welterweight and the super middleweight and light heavyweight variants of the OPBF belt.
The intriguing Kim was born in Kumamoto, a prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, Japan. Since his boxing beginnings, the man known as Toshiharu Kaneyama would become Crazy Kim, exhibiting laughter, often pulling faces and bouncing around the ring before fights – sometimes, even during.
Combined with his ring attire, like something out of Hajime No Ippo, Kim would soon make waves, earning a shot at the JBC Super Welterweight title in his fifth fight on the 15th of February 1996.
Long reigning champion Akira Ohigashi (39-8-3) was making the last defence of his JBC belt and, at this point in his career, was too far ahead for the surging, young powerhouse. Unable to stop Kim, the fight would go to the scorecards; the decision was unanimous.
With one KO win, Kim would bounce straight back into title contention, although, this time, the champion would be Joya Kawai (15-3). Again, however, Kim would fall short, although the split decision highlighted the unstoppable nature of the irregular challenger.
In 2001, Kim hoped that the third time would be his charm. Hiroyuki Yoshino would stand across from him in what would be one of his most thoroughly entertaining and exhilarating bouts.
Kim, the power-punching marauder, would pounce at the slick and speedy Yoshino from the opening bell in a riveting, back-and-forth affair that must be seen to be believed.
Footage from Boxing Channel on Youtube
Tides would turn throughout, with Kim, on the back foot, suddenly able to eek out a moment; inches would become miles. In a flash, Yoshino would suddenly seem as though he would falter at any second. This became the pattern of the fight.
In the final round, both grand warriors would engage for one last time. Yoshino would claim a final round KO. The biggest loss of Kim’s career had also become his most legendary.
Four KO/TKO wins had inched Kim towards the fourth chance of his now storied journey through the Japanese boxing scene – and his opponent would be a legendary name. Nobuhiro Ishida would be a fighter that would be catapulted onto the world stage in the coming years, but, at this point, he was struggling on the national level.
Taking to the Kokugikan on the undercard of William Joppy (40-7-2) versus Naotaka Hozumi (30-7-2), with the eyes of the world watching, Kim would burst alight. In a long and difficult fight, Kim would achieve his dream in front of thousands of eyeballs, lifting the prestigious national title above his head.
This would start an imperial run at the national level for Kim. With one stunning defence of the JBC belt, Kim would knock out the Korean fighter Byung Chul Oh (11-8-2) to claim the OPBF Super Welterweight belt within two swift rounds.
In 2004, the foundations of the legendary Korakuen Hall would brace for the rematch between Kim and Ishida for the JBC belt. The headlining fight would be closer than before, with the extra experience clearly benefiting Ishida as he was closer to resembling the form that global audiences would become familiar with.
However, with one knockdown in the sixth, combined with hefty punches, Kim would succeed over his foe once again.
From here through to 2006, his fortunes would only turn up, broadcasting his quirky and endearing personality across the country whilst defending the JBC and OPBF belt and claiming the vacant WBC Asian belt in the process.
Despite his entertaining nature, it was only natural for Kim to finally go global. His first opponent from beyond Asia would be Javier Alberto Mamani (42-18-1), an Argentine who would go on to lose against Ishida, as well as Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1).
Returning to the Korakuen Hall, Javier would show the difference between the national level and the world stage, finishing the Crazy warrior in the final round.
It was a learning experience for Kim, who would recover at the OPBF level. Emphatic wins over Australian fighter Heath Stenton (15-18-1) and ‘The Jet’, Fijian fighter Zulfikar Joy Ali (31-13-8) would keep him healthy and active. The latter in particular was a late career joy, as it were, for Kim.
He would go global once again, this time, taking to the road to face Anthony Mundine (48-11), the Australian ‘Man’ who had previously held world honours, particularly the WBA World Super Middleweight title.
This would prove to be too much for Crazy Kim.
Shades of Toshiharu Kaneyama would emerge from the battered warrior, who would attempt his best at the Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales. Kim would even knock Mundine down in the sixth, but it would prove futile.
It was with this brave-hearted performance that Crazy Kim would hang up his gloves. Toshiharu Kaneyama would return to the streets of Kumamoto a changed man. Yet, despite this heroic end, the legend of Kim will always live on; a fighter who always produced fireworks, be it win, lose or draw.