Ryu Sorimachi

Biography

Ryu Sorimachi, a Tokyo-born orthodox fighter, began his professional boxing journey on June 20, 1965, with a loss to Noriharu Nakamura over four rounds. Despite this initial setback, Sorimachi's career quickly gained momentum, with his aggressive and determined style eventually earning him the Japanese Welterweight title. He captured the belt in his 27th fight by outpointing Kazuyoshi Kubokura over 10 rounds. This victory was followed by a rematch, where he secured a decisive win by stopping Kubokura in the fourth round.

Sorimachi continued to defend his title with solid performances, including a fifth-round stoppage of Hideo Kanazawa. Seeking tougher competition, he travelled to the United States in the late 1960s, facing skilled opponents like Kid Rayo and Raul Soriano. Although both fights ended in losses, Sorimachi returned to Japan and continued to build his resume with wins over domestic fighters. In February 1970, he knocked out Joe Tamai in three rounds and repeated the feat against Tetsuo Hoshino three months later.

A significant step up in competition came when Sorimachi faced Adolph Pruitt, a world title contender, who handed him a second-round knockout loss. Bouncing back, Sorimachi knocked out Hisao Minami in the seventh round, earning a shot at the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Welterweight title. He captured the title by knocking out Byung Mo Lim of South Korea in the ninth round, and he successfully defended it against challengers like Fel Pedranza, whom he stopped in three rounds.

A second trip to the United States in the early 1970s saw Sorimachi pick up two victories, including a second-round stoppage of Harold Brown and a unanimous decision win over Joe Louis Hargrove. Returning to Japan, he defended his OPBF title, defeating Takatsune Shimizu over 12 rounds. In August 1972, he retained his title in a draw against Min Cho.

Sorimachi's career saw him challenge for world titles, including a notable fight in 1973 for the WBC World Super Welterweight title against Koichi Wajima. The bout in Osaka ended in a close 15-round majority decision loss for Sorimachi. A series of fights followed, including a unanimous decision win over Cris Pasumil and a victory over Man Sung Choi. However, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to former champion Eddie Perkins and a seventh-round TKO defeat to Oscar Albarado, a reigning world titleholder.

Sorimachi continued to compete at the regional level, defending his OPBF title multiple times. His bouts against Shoji Tsujimoto and Min Cho resulted in draws. In February 1976, he secured a unanimous decision victory over former world champion Pedro Adigue Jr. Later, he picked up points wins over Young Keun Jung and Thamington Singsamang, keeping his OPBF title reign intact.

In 1978, Sorimachi got his biggest chance on the world stage when he faced Carlos Palomino for the WBC World Welterweight title in Las Vegas. Although Sorimachi showed resilience, Palomino's focused body attack and power led to a seventh-round knockout. After this setback, Sorimachi returned to Japan, where he successfully defended his OPBF title once more, defeating Mana Premchai by unanimous decision. His career ended on March 26, 1979, with a sixth-round knockout loss to Man Duk Lee at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Sorimachi's career, spanning nearly 14 years, featured notable wins, international experiences, and battles against some of the top contenders of his era. His career path illustrates the ups and downs of a fighter willing to face challenging opponents at home and abroad.