Boxer Renan Portes from Valencia City, Bukidnon, had a record of 13 wins and 16 losses before fighting Japanese knockout artist Keita Kurihara. On July 22, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Portes believed he won the fight, but the decision went against him, marking his 17th loss. In a rare display of sportsmanship, Kurihara refused to accept the victory, believing Portes should have won. After being declared the winner, Kurihara, with tears in his eyes, took the microphone and addressed the crowd, saying, “I was treated as the winner in the end, but I lost. It’s embarrassing that I was declared the winner. I’m really sorry.”
Kurihara even visited Portes in his locker room and personally apologized. He admitted that his punches missed their target and he was spinning around. He also got hit quite a lot. It was the worst possible situation and I was completely defeated,” Kurihara admitted. Watch below.
Watch below.
Keita Kurihara told Renan Portes that he will protest to review the match because he believed Portes won the match and he should tell his children he won the match.
Kurihara told Team Portes that he is retiring from boxing. pic.twitter.com/v5lZMJUlVI
— OLE (@ajoaquinarieta) July 22, 2024
What a great sportsman @keita_boxing is! He told Renan Portes that he will ask the JBC to review the match because he believed Portes was the real winner in the match.@ICHIRIKI_BOXING @owayuzo https://t.co/n74R4Np5km pic.twitter.com/4llqGe8Lbi
— OLE (@ajoaquinarieta) July 22, 2024
Prior to the fight, Kurihara was a favorite owing to his record of 18 wins with 16 KOs, 8 losses and 1 draw.
At the end of the bout, two judges had Kurihara the winner by 78-74 while the third judge saw Portes winning also with the same score of 78-74.
Kurihara also stated he will ask the Japan Boxing Commission to review the match. He will also retire from boxing.
