Akari (kickboxer)

AKARI
BornAkari Sugata
8 December 2003
Adachi, Tokyo, Japan
Native name須方 星
NicknameCinderella
NationalityJapanese
Height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Weight49 kg (108 lb; 7 st 10 lb)
StyleKickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofToshima, Tokyo, Japan
TeamTARGET
TrainerErika Kamimura
Years active2019 - present
Kickboxing record
Total13
Wins10
By knockout1
Losses3
By knockout0

Akari Sugata (Japanese: 須方 星, Sugata Akari, born December 8, 2003), more popularly known by her ring name AKARI, is a Japanese professional kickboxer. She is the 2021 RISE NEXT QUEEN Tournament winner and a two-time RISE Women's Mini Flyweight title challenger.

As of November 2023, she is ranked as the second-best women's strawweight kickboxer in the world by Beyond Kick.

Kickboxing career

Akari made her professional kickboxing debut against Eriko at RISE WORLD SERIES 2019 Final Round on September 16, 2019. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 30–28 and one scorecard of 29–28 in her favor.

Akari faced Wakana Miyazaki at the inaugural RISE GIRLS POWER event on November 8, 2019. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Akari next faced Ran at RISE GIRLS POWER 2 on February 11, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Akari was expected to face Moe Okura at RISE 141 on August 23, 2020. Okura withdrew from the bout on August 7, after contracting COVID-19, and was replaced by Maki Goto. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with two ringside officials awarding her a 30–28 scorecard, while the third judge scored the contest an even 29–29.

Akari faced Yurika Jimbo at Rise 144 on December 18, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 29–28.

On February 22, 2021, it was announced that Akari would face Wakana Miyazaki in the semifinals of the RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) tournament, held on March 28, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision and advanced to the finals of the one-day tournament, where she faced Moe Okura. Akari won the fight by split decision, with scores of 30–29, 29–28 and 28–29.

Akari challenged Hinata Terayama for the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship at RISE on Abema 2 on May 16, 2021. Terayama won the fight by unanimous decision, winning 48–47 on all three judges scorecards.

Akari faced YAYA in a flyweight (-52 kg) bout at RISE Girls Power 5 on September 12, 2021. Akari was able to knock her opponent down with a left straight near the end of the opening round. This knockdown caused an ankle injury, which forced YAYA to retire from the contest 10 seconds into the second round.

Akari faced erika♡ at RISE 153 on December 12, 2021. The fight was ruled a draw by unanimous decision after the first three rounds were contested. erika was awarded a unanimous decision win after an extra fourth round was fought.

Akari faced Wakana Miyazaki in the semifinals of the RISE Mini Flyweight Championship tournament at RISE 157 on April 24, 2022. She was able to overcome Miyazaki by split decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–28 and 29–30. Akari faced erika♡ in the tournament final at RISE 159 on June 24, 2022. She lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50–48, 49–47 and 50–46.

Akari faced the #4 ranked RISE mini-flyweight contender Eriko at RISE 162 on October 30, 2022. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur

  • RISE
    • 2018 KAMINARIMON All Japan Women's Flyweight (-52 kg) Tournament Winner

Professional

  • RISE
    • 2021 RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Tournament Winner
    • 2022 RISE Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Championship Tournament Runner-up

Fight record

Professional Kickboxing Record
10 Wins (1 (T)KOs), 3 Losses, 0 Draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2022-10-30 Win Eriko RISE 162 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2022-06-24 Loss erika❤️ RISE 159 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
For the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship.
2023-11-18 Win Wakana Miyazaki RISE 157 - Tournament Semifinal Tokyo, Japan Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2021-12-12 Loss erika❤️ RISE 153 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2021-09-12 Win YAYA RISE Girls Power 5 Tokyo, Japan TKO (Injury to ankle) 2 0:04
2021-06-15 Loss Hinata Terayama RISE on Abema 2 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
For the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship.
2021-03-28 Win Moe Okura RISE 147, Tournament Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Split) 3 3:00
Wins the RISE NEXT QUEEN Mini Flyweight (-49 kg) Tournament.
2021-03-28 Win Wakana Miyazaki RISE 147, Tournament Semifinal Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-12-18 Win Yurika Jimbo RISE 144 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2020-12-18 Win Maki Goto RISE 141 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 3 3:00
2020-02-11 Win Ran RISE Girls Power 2 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-11-08 Win Wakana Miyazaki RISE Girls Power Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2019-09-18 Win Eriko RISE WORLD SERIES 2019 Final Round Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Kickboxing Record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2019-06-02 Win Sakika Ito KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
2019-06-02 Win Yukari Kobayashi KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan TKO 1
2019-04-14 Win Moe Shimizu KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 2 1:30
2018-10-21 Loss Koko Ohara KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
2018-08-05 Win Megumi Inoue KAMINARIMON All Japan Tournament, Final Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
Wins the 2018 KAMINARIMON All Japan Women's Flyweight (-52 kg) Tournament.
2018-08-05 Win Satsuki Murakami KAMINARIMON All Japan Tournament, Semifnal Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 2 1:30
2018-03-11 Win Miyu Nakamura Shootboxing Tokyo, Japan KO 1
2016-12-11 Loss Koyo Highashi KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
2016-10-09 Loss Bunto Takasaka KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
2014-12-14 Loss Shota Noda KAMINARIMON Tokyo, Japan Decision (Majority) 2 1:30
2014-10-19 Loss Renichi Hishinuma WPMF & BOM Amateur Tournament Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 2 1:30
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See also