aoki masaru

Birthday: September 9, 1971 Homeland: Tokyo, Japan Occupation: Chuuka Soba chef Weight class: Lightweight Height: 171 cm (5'7") Reach: 171 cm (67") Style: Unorthodox boxing style Stance: Orthodox Stance Current affiliation: Kamogawa Boxing Gym Trainer: Shinoda He is an unorthodox lightweight boxer and one of the core members of the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. Along with Kimura Tatsuya, he was scouted into boxing by Takamura Mamoru, whom they initially aimed to defeat but eventually came to admire. Aoki had a troubled youth as a punk until high school when he lost a fight to Takamura Mamoru, who was then a middleweight with two wins under his belt. This loss motivated him to quit school along with his close friend Kimura Tetsuya to become boxers at Kamogawa gym. Initially, their goal was to land a clean hit on Takamura, but they grew to love boxing and developed their own skills. Aoki became known for his clownish boxing style, with signature techniques like the Frog Punch and Look-Away, which led him to a draw in a Japanese title match with then-champion Imae Katsuka. Currently, Aoki has a rivalry with Papaya Dachiu, the lightweight champion of the Philippines, with whom he has drawn two consecutive matches. In flashbacks, Aoki is depicted as a delinquent with a troubled school life, participating in countless fights and brawls with rival schools. Throughout the series, Aoki shows a playful, immature, and mischievous personality, reflecting this attitude in his boxing matches where he uses deceptive methods to confuse or ridicule opponents due to his comparatively unexceptional boxing skills. A running gag involves Aoki revealing impressive talents that have no connection to boxing. Another involves his girlfriend's friendship with Kumi, making it easier for him to help Ippo contact her. His prankster personality extends to his teammates, especially towards Makunouchi Ippo and Takamura Mamoru. Together with Kimura, he forms the "Aokimura" duo according to Itagaki Manabu. Aoki’s taste in women is often joked about in the series; he prefers women considered 'ugly' by others, possibly due to being cruelly dumped by a beautiful girl. Despite this, he has held a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Tomiko, longer than any of his gym mates except Ippo. In recent events, Aoki was badly beaten by Iga Shinobu and landed in the hospital. Given the option to retire with Kimura after their lengthy careers, Aoki refused, determined to stay in the lightweight class until he defeats Iga, whom he now considers his goal and rival. Takamura comments on how stubborn both Aoki and Kimura are. Current Record Rank: 5 (JBC) Total fights: 23 Wins: 12 Wins by KO: 7 Losses: 8 Draws: 3