Akeomi Nitta

Akeomi Nitta (新田明臣, born July 23, 1973) is a Japanese kickboxer. He is one of Japan's kickboxers in the welterweight division.

Biography

Karate to kickboxing In elementary school Akeomi Nitta loved baseball; during junior high he chose not to pursue sports, instead concentrating on other activities. Daido-juku karate rekindled his interest, and he won the first tournament that he participated in although he was only a white belt (beginner) at the time. Soon after he met his teacher, Mr. Katsuyama, and became a pupil of S.V.G., a kickboxing gym, he won the championship of Shin-karate absolute class by knocking out all his opponents.

As a kickboxer He knocked out his opponent again in his first professional match, and the future welterweight champion of the New Japan Kickboxing Federation, Hiroshi Suzuki, in his second. He knocked out another future welterweight champion, of the All Japan Kickboxing Federation, Tatsuya Suzuki, and won 12 straight matches from April 1994 to September 1998. In October 1996, he won the New Japan Kickboxing Federation Middleweight championship title. In March 2000, he defeated Mohammed Owali, the WPKL World Super welterweight champion who no other Japanese kickboxer had been able to defeat. Two months later, he beat an Italian kickboxer and won the title of WKA World Thai Boxing Super Welterweight champion in Milan, Italy. Later, he won the All Japan Kickboxing Federation Middleweight Championship.

Challenge to K-1 He had several K-1 matches, notably against Ramon Dekkers of the Netherlands—called "the strongest kickboxer of 20th century"—which ended in a draw. Dekker later said that Nitta was the strongest Japanese kickboxer. Nitta also KO'd American Kit Cope in K-1. In 2002 he participated in the K-1 WORLD MAX Japan Tournament, but was knocked out by Takashi Ohno, ISKA World Oriental Super Middleweight champion. In 2005 he defeated Ash-Ra, Takehiro Murahama and Koutetsu Boku while losing to Takayuki Kohiruimaki and Ian James Schaffa. In 2006 he lost to Yoshihiro Sato.

As a coach He founded his own kickboxing gym named "BUNGELING BAY", and served as its president.

Titles and accomplishments New Japan Kickboxing Federation 1996 NJKF Middleweight Champion (defended twice) All Japan Kickboxing Federation 1999 AJKF Middleweight Champion World Kickboxing Association 2000 W.K.A. World Muay Thai Super Welterweight Champion IKUSA 2004 IKUSA -70kg Champion K-1 2005 K1 World MAX Japan tournament Runner-up Universal Kickboxing Federation 2007 UKF World Middleweight Champion

Kickboxing record