Saigo Imaya
Saigo Imaya | |
|---|---|
 Imaya in 2021 | |
| Born | 23 March, 1994 Nakazara, Dayashina |
| Other names | "The Butcher" |
| Education | Makurazaki Army Academy |
| Occupation | Boxer |
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
| Parent(s) | Genzo Imaya Hana Kamakura |
| Awards | OneBoxing superflyweight, bantamweight titles |
Saigo Imaya is a Dayashinese professional boxer and a world champion in two weight classes. Imaya is thus far undefeated with a record of 21 wins to 0 losses through 7 years in professional boxing. Nicknamed "the Butcher," Imaya is famous for his pace, punching power, combinations, and focus on body attack, winning 18 out of his 21 fights by KO or TKO. As of 2021, Imaya is ranked as the world's best active bantamweight boxer by several organisations, and is ranked as the world's second best active pound for pound boxer by domestic and international organisations alike.
Imaya is regarded as one of the best aggressive boxers in history, noted for his ability to dismantle the defence of seasoned defensive boxers via powerful body shots and rapid combinations. In 2020, he was featured as Dayashina Sports Focus Magazine's Rising Star of the Year following his ascendancy to an undefeated record through 20 bouts and the claiming of the OneBoxing bantamweight title. Also after claiming this title, he met with Dayashinese Prime Minister Daichi Noru, a known avid fan of boxing, who congratulated him on his victories and hailed him as the "undisputed future of Dayashinese and world boxing."
Imaya is considered one of the highest paid athletes alive in Dayashina. Despite his destructiveness in the ring, he is well-known for displaying a high degree of respect for his opponents and shortness with words in press conferences.
Early life and amateur career
Saigo Imaya was born in Nakazara, Dayashina in 1994 to an educated family. His father, Genzo, is a businessman and investor who participated in amateur boxing as a teenager and young adult. His mother, Hana, is a professional cook for luxury resorts and social media blogger. Genzo would introduce Saigo to boxing at the age of 7, where he very quickly displayed natural talent for the sport. Saigo would participate in amateur youth boxing leagues up until the age of 14, when he was enrolled in the Makurazaki Army Academy until the age of 18. During his tenure at the Academy, he would continue harnessing his skills in the sport with the guidance of his father and Academy teachers. He participated in Makurazaki youth leagues and internal Academy competitions regularly, which he dominated without much contention. Instead of listing in the RDA following his tenure at the Makurazaki Army Academy, Imaya opted to pursue boxing as permanent professional career.
Imaya would place second in the Dayashinese youth national championships at the age of 16, and began entering international competitions at the age of 18, where he would meet greater adversity. He would take first place in the 2013 East Hemithean Amateur Conference, but place second and third in following events. Nevertheless, he was wildly successful in his amateur career, with a total record of 81-6, with 53 wins my KO or TKO.
Professional career
After an illustrious amateur run, several of Dayashina's most prestigious boxing gyms sought to sign Imaya to their ranks, but Imaya would ultimately select to sign with Miyaka Boxing Gym, where he signed an agreement with Takuro Miyaka to never fight opponents below his skill level. Takuro Miyaka, famous for producing "the Dragon" Gaku Nagata (38-2), took to training Imaya in 2014, although Imaya's father Genzo has also remained centrally relevant to training Saigo since his signing.