CROSSOVER HIT
TN: Exactly. It’s not about that. For me, sharpening my speed and timing is much more important. I believe that if I can master those, the power will come naturally as a result. The Ring: Is your desire to score more KOs connected to your wish to put on exciting fights? TN: Definitely. There’s this atmosphere or expectation in boxing that a fighter has to get knockouts to impress. And while I do want to show that side, I also feel
The Ring: Do you often think “Boxing could be better if it just changed this one thing”? TN: Honestly, I could go on and on. But on the other hand, the fact that boxing has stuck to its traditions is exactly why it still holds a sense of prestige today. In boxing, fighters are judged by their true strength. If you’re not truly strong, you can’t step into the ring. In other combat sports, even if you’re not that strong, as long as you attract enough attention, you can get fights. Sometimes it’s like,
real energy. There are even people who’ve never watched boxing who have something to say about me. If I can be the reason those people come to know boxing, then that’s great. So I want them to keep enjoying things even as critics. But I do wonder: How long can they keep being “anti”? Like, if I become a world champion, are they still going to be haters? I’d like to see how strong their commitment is. If they’re going to flip and change sides, now’s their chance. (laughs) “I believe boxing is closely tied to how you The Ring: If you were to describe the biggest difference between kickboxing, MMA and boxing, what would you say? TN: The audiences are different, I’d say. Kickboxing and MMA tend to attract younger fans. Boxing, although younger people are starting to watch it recently, generally appeals more to an older crowd. They don’t watch with intense excitement, but more like they’re appreciating an art form – almost like being at an art museum. That’s the image I have. The Ring: So the atmosphere at kickboxing or MMA events is quite different? TN: Yeah, those events have more of a “go, go, keep pushing!” vibe. With boxing, the number of rounds is higher and it’s hard for fans to stay hyped all the way through a 12-round fight. I think younger people nowadays aren’t good at watching long things, so in that sense, boxing doesn’t really match with the times.
strongly that knockouts aren’t everything in boxing. Look at history – there have been all kinds of great fighters. Going the full 12 rounds is also part of what makes boxing special. I want to help people who don’t yet understand boxing or aren’t familiar with it to see and appreciate all those different aspects of the sport. The Ring: Even before winning a world title, you’ve had a lot of attention and pressure. That
“Wait, this guy’s already getting a title shot?” But boxing doesn’t really allow for that. Only truly strong fighters get into the most important fights, and I think that standard has been preserved well. The Ring: That’s definitely one of boxing’s strengths. But is there something boxing still lacks? TN: I feel like boxers end up being seen as just “fighters.” If fans could see why a boxer fights, what kind of person they are,
live your everyday life, and I think the biggest growth has been as a person.”
kind of hype is rare. At this point, does the level of expectation or fame ever feel like a burden? Or do you enjoy it? TN: I’ve dealt with this kind of pressure since my kickboxing days, so honestly, I almost never feel it. No, I don’t feel pressure. Even if I lose, the world’s not going to stop spinning – animals are still going to be out there living their lives. (laughs) So I just think it’s really not that big of a deal. The Ring: It’s also a kind of honor, but despite your popularity, you’re already probably the most criticized or disliked boxer in Japan. TN: Yeah, yeah, that’s true. (laughs) The Ring: Doesn’t it ever make you angry when people say things about you? TN: Not at all. I actually feel grateful. I think anyone who says anything about me is someone who has some kind of passion. And that passion matters. Having people on both sides – supporters and critics – is what creates
then I think it would be easier for them to get emotionally invested. Without that, it’s hard to generate real passion. It’s not just about watching someone strong. When people get a glimpse into their humanity, into what they fight for or how they live, it makes a big difference. I think sharing those sides of ourselves is important. The Ring: Especially in Japanese boxing, there’s a sense that those kinds of stories don’t get communicated well. TN: I think in the past, TV used to help get those stories across. But now that boxing isn’t on TV much anymore, we fighters have to tell those stories ourselves. If you don’t speak up, you can’t survive. That’s the world we live in now. For me, continuing to share through social media or YouTube comes from not wanting people to see me as “just a fighter.” I want to be someone people support even outside the ring, someone they root for regardless of whether I’m boxing or not.
Nasukawa beat the experienced Victor Santillan last time out.
The Ring spoke to Nasukawa and gained some fascinating insight into one of Japan’s most exciting young boxers. The Ring: How do you reflect on your professional boxing career so far? Tenshin Nasukawa: It’s been about two years since I turned pro, and I really feel like I’ve been able to grow with every fight. I’d say my style isn’t quite set in stone yet – I’m constantly trying to show that I can do anything in the ring. Most fighters have a set style, like “this is how this guy fights,” but in my case, I think I show something different every time. I feel like I’ve been able to highlight a new strength with each fight. The Ring: In your last two fights, you defeated world-ranked opponents Jason Moloney and Victor Santillan. Through those bouts, where do you feel you’ve improved the most? TN: I believe boxing is closely tied to how you live your everyday life, and I
think the biggest growth has been as a person. As for my boxing itself, I feel like I’ve become even more versatile. I used to only be able to fight from long range, but now I’ve developed the ability to fight at close range, too. I’ve always said I want to understand every aspect of the sport, and I feel like I’m really making that happen. The Ring: So rather than saying your skills or speed have improved, you feel you’ve grown more as a person? TN: Yes, that’s right. I think I’ve been able to approach each fight with a mindset of wanting to understand boxing more deeply. I feel like that’s where the growth is happening. I’m starting to grasp the sport little by little, and going forward, I hope to gradually add more of my own essence into that understanding.
TN: Ideally, it’s being able to win without even letting my opponent touch me. I don’t think knockouts are everything, but I want to entertain people through my fights and make them fall in love with boxing – that’s the ideal for me. The Ring: There’s often debate around your knockout power. Do you personally want to score more KOs? TN: Yeah, I do want that. But that doesn’t mean I’m focused on building power. It’s not just raw power that knocks people out – it’s really about timing and speed. That’s what I’ve been working on: how to refine and execute those elements.
The Ring: What does “ideal boxing” look like to you?
The Ring: So it’s not about doing heavy weight training or anything like that.
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