Yuri Arbachakov
Encyclopedia
Yuri Arbachakov was a boxing
champion in the flyweight
division. He was the first Russian professional boxing champion.
. He won both world and European amateur championships during his amateur career, and lost only 21 of 186 amateur fights.
as part of the perestroika
program, along with Orzubek Nazarov
. He trained with the Kyoei boxing gym, and fought almost all of his fights in Japan. He made his professional debut in February, 1990, in the bantamweight
division. In 1991, his gym changed his ring name to "Yuri Ebihara," (after former world champion Hiroyuki Ebihara
) and in July of that year, he won the Japanese flyweight title in his seventh professional bout, by 1st round knockout. He defended the title once before returning it.
In June, 1992, he challenged Muangchai Kittikasem
for the WBC
and Lineal flyweight titles, and won by 8th round knockout. He would go on to defend his titles nine times over five years.
After winning the world titles, he took out "Ebihara" from his ring name, and began fighting as "Yuri Arbachakov." He made this change because "Ebi" closely resembles the Russian word for "Fuck."
In August, 1996, he made his 9th defense by 8th round KO, but injured his right hand during the fight. The injury forced him into a long period of inactivity.
His 10th defense was scheduled for November, 1997, over a year since his last fight. Chatchai Sasakul
had become the WBC
flyweight interim champion during Arbachakov's inactivity, and the two had previously fought in September, 1995, with Arbachakov emerging victorious by decision. However, Sasakul won the rematch by 12 round decision, and Arbachakov announced his retirement after the fight. His professional record was 23-1-0 (16KOs).
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion in the flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
division. He was the first Russian professional boxing champion.
Amateur career
Arbachakov was an amateur boxing star in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He won both world and European amateur championships during his amateur career, and lost only 21 of 186 amateur fights.
Professional boxing career
Arbachakov emigrated to JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as part of the perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
program, along with Orzubek Nazarov
Orzubek Nazarov
Orzubek Nazarov is a Kyrgyz boxer, who won the bronze medal at the 1986 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Reno...
. He trained with the Kyoei boxing gym, and fought almost all of his fights in Japan. He made his professional debut in February, 1990, in the bantamweight
Bantamweight
Bantamweight is usually a class in boxing for boxers who weigh above 115 pounds and up to 118 pounds . However, in Mixed Martial Arts it is 134-136 pounds . Wrestling also has similar weight classes including bantamweight...
division. In 1991, his gym changed his ring name to "Yuri Ebihara," (after former world champion Hiroyuki Ebihara
Hiroyuki Ebihara
Hiroyuki Ebihara was a Japanese world-champion flyweight boxer from Fussa, Tokyo. His record includes 62 wins , 5 losses, and 1 draw. He was the first world flyweight champion certified by the World Boxing Council, and he was also certified by the World Boxing Association and The Ring...
) and in July of that year, he won the Japanese flyweight title in his seventh professional bout, by 1st round knockout. He defended the title once before returning it.
In June, 1992, he challenged Muangchai Kittikasem
Muangchai Kittikasem
Muangchai Kittikasem is a former boxer from Thailand. He was world champion in two weightclasses.He claims to have fought fought around forty to fifty Muay Thai in fights in ring name Jingjok Uvichaiyont but never won any championships...
for the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
and Lineal flyweight titles, and won by 8th round knockout. He would go on to defend his titles nine times over five years.
After winning the world titles, he took out "Ebihara" from his ring name, and began fighting as "Yuri Arbachakov." He made this change because "Ebi" closely resembles the Russian word for "Fuck."
In August, 1996, he made his 9th defense by 8th round KO, but injured his right hand during the fight. The injury forced him into a long period of inactivity.
His 10th defense was scheduled for November, 1997, over a year since his last fight. Chatchai Sasakul
Chatchai Sasakul
Chatchai Sasakul is a former boxing champion in the flyweight division. Aside of being a professional boxer, Sasakul is also a practitioner in snooker.- Amateur career :Sasakul was an amateur boxing star in Thailand...
had become the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
flyweight interim champion during Arbachakov's inactivity, and the two had previously fought in September, 1995, with Arbachakov emerging victorious by decision. However, Sasakul won the rematch by 12 round decision, and Arbachakov announced his retirement after the fight. His professional record was 23-1-0 (16KOs).