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Former WBA champion Kobayashi announces retirement

TOKYO, Japan - Former World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight champion Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi (R) shakes hands with his trainer Toshimi Miura on July 15 in Tokyo after announcing his retirement from boxing.

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(2) Munoz TKOs Kobayashi for WBA super flyweight crown

TOKYO, Japan - Venezuela's Alexander Munoz raises his arms after beating champion Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi with a technical knockout in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-round title match at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan on March 9. Munoz won the World Boxing Association super flyweight championship after sending Kobayashi to the canvas for the fourth time in the fight as referee Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa signaled the end at 1:31 in the eighth round.

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(1) Munoz TKOs Kobayashi for WBA super flyweight crown

TOKYO, Japan - Venezuela's Alexander Munoz floors Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi for the day's third knockdown in the seventh round of a scheduled 12-round title match at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan on March 9. Munoz captured the World Boxing Association super flyweight championship after sending the defending champion to the canvas for the fourth time in the fight as referee Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa jumped in to signal the end at 1:31 in the eighth round.

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Munoz to challenge WBA super flyweight champion Kobayashi

TOKYO, Japan - WBA super flyweight champion Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi of Japan and top-ranked challenger Alexander Munoz of Venezuela pose at the signing ceremony at a Tokyo hotel March 7 ahead of their March 9 fight at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

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Kobayashi keeps WBA super flyweight crown with split decision

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Champion Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi gets hoisted onto the shoulders of one of his supporters after learning he had defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight crown with a split decision triumph over Venezuela's Jesus Rojas at Yokohama Arena on Sept. 1.

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Kobayashi wins WBA super flyweight crown by TKO

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Japan's Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi floors champion Leo Gamez with a left hook in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-rounder at Yokohama Arena on March 11 to steal the World Boxing Association super flyweight title from the veteran Venezuelan by technical knockout.

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Kobayashi comes up short in WBC flyweight challenge

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese challenger Shoji ''Celes'' Kobayashi (L) slumps in disappointment after learning his 12-round effort against champion Malcolm Tunacao of the Philippines (R) in the WBC flyweight world championship title fight was ruled a draw. The fight took place Aug. 20 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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