On December 19, 1995, a 23-year-old Shinji Takehara (23-0, 18 KOs) got a shot at the WBA middleweight title held by 28-year-old Argentinian boxer Jorge Castro (98-4-2, 68 KOs).
Takehara came in to the fight on a 23-fight win streak with a 78% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 7 days. Castro was on a 28-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 6 days.
Shinji Takehara defeated Jorge Castro via unanimous decision and wins the WBA title — in his first world-title fight. Takehara improves his record to 24-0, while Castro adds a loss to his record at 98-5-2.
On April 17, 1995, a 23-year-old Shinji Takehara (21-0, 17 KOs) and Park Young-Ki met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 21-fight win streak with a 81% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 29 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Park Young-Ki via KO in the 1st round. Takehara improves his record to 22-0 (18 KOs)
On September 18, 1989, a 17-year-old Shinji Takehara (2-0, 2 KOs) and Kiyoshi Hirayama met in the ring for the 2nd time,.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 100% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 1 day.
In the rematch, Shinji Takehara stopped Kiyoshi Hirayama via KO in the 1st round. Takehara improves his record to 3-0 (3 KOs)
On February 17, 1992, a 20-year-old Shinji Takehara (11-0, 10 KOs) and Hisashi Teraji met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 11-fight win streak with a 90% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 20 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Hisashi Teraji via KO in the 2nd round. Takehara improves his record to 12-0 (11 KOs)
On November 22, 1993, a 21-year-old Shinji Takehara (16-0, 13 KOs) and Nico Toriri met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 16-fight win streak with a 81% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 29 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Nico Toriri via KO in the 6th round. Takehara improves his record to 17-0 (14 KOs)
On December 19, 1994, a 22-year-old Shinji Takehara (20-0, 16 KOs) and Craig Trotter met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 20-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 1 day.
Shinji Takehara stopped Craig Trotter via KO in the 7th round. Takehara improves his record to 21-0 (17 KOs)
On June 12, 1994, a 22-year-old Shinji Takehara (18-0, 15 KOs) and Alex Tui met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 83% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 22 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Alex Tui via KO in the 7th round. Takehara improves his record to 19-0 (16 KOs)
On February 15, 1993, a 21-year-old Shinji Takehara (14-0, 11 KOs) and Satoshi Yokozaki met in the ring for the 2nd time, in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 14-fight win streak with a 78% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 29 days.
In the rematch, Shinji Takehara stopped Satoshi Yokozaki via KO in the 5th round. Takehara improves his record to 15-0 (12 KOs)
On October 28, 1991, a 19-year-old Shinji Takehara (10-0, 9 KOs) and Takehito Saijo met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 10-fight win streak with a 90% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 13 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Takehito Saijo via KO in the 7th round. Takehara improves his record to 11-0 (10 KOs)
On May 24, 1993, a 21-year-old Shinji Takehara (15-0, 12 KOs) and Lee Sung-Chun met in the ring in a middleweight bout.
Takehara came in to the fight on a 15-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 9 days.
Shinji Takehara stopped Lee Sung-Chun via KO in the 12th round. Takehara improves his record to 16-0 (13 KOs)