Genki Yamamoto

Genki Yamamoto is a retired Japanese kickboxer, born on 2 August 1977, who fought professionally between 2000 and 2011. He made his name in the featherweight division of the All Japan Kickboxing Federation, known as AJKF, where he won the federation's featherweight championship in December 2003 by knocking out the reigning champion Hisanori Maeda in the third round. He defended the title twice against Masahiro Yamamoto, drawing the first bout in 2004 and losing the second by majority decision in 2006. Along the way he met several Thai champions, including Kaew Fairtex, to whom he lost on points in a 2007 fight for the WBC Muaythai world super featherweight title. Later he moved to the lightweight division of Krush and reached the semifinals of its inaugural lightweight tournament in 2009. A run of losses followed, and he announced his retirement on 30 August 2011. The AJKF named him its Fighter of the Year for 2005.