Brief Bio: Katsuma Akitsugi is one of the best unknown fighters in the world, as he has beaten four undefeated prospects in ten professional fights.

Pros for a promoter signing Akitsugi

• Can really fight, and has fought better opponents at a club level than many current world champions did to get to a title.
• Hard to hit, and though not the same as the great Lomachenko has elements of deception that are based around the changing of speeds in his punches that could translate well to the world-class level
• Always willing to fight. Some of Akitsugi’s wins have come on extremely short notice against the promotion’s fighters, meaning he will take tough fights when they are asked of him.
• The #5 super bantamweight in the United States per BoxRec.com

Cons for a promoter signing Akitsugi

• One knockout in ten fights means Akitsugi might not give a drunk fan the joy of a knockout, a fan who we label as “casual”, I feel oftentimes as a sport we cater more so to, than the fans of the sport itself.
• Has fought since May. Akitsugi is struggling to find dates without a promoter, as he is now in ten-round fights.
• Super bantamweight is a solid division, one that Naoya Inoue should be in very soon, BUT it is also one that we don’t see a lot of these bouts broadcast in main event-type spots outside of Stephen Fulton Jr. currently.

Why I Like Him: An old-school fighter, who is beating world-level competition repeatedly and is now being avoided because people see the risk. Akitsugi is one of the best, if not the very best, unsigned fighter in the country currently.

His notable wins include one over Eros Correa, an Olympic fighter from 2012, and one of the best amateur boxers in the lower weights, Arnold Dinong, a solid fighter who trains with Bruno Escalante and Mike Bazzel, Diuhl Olguin, a game spoiler who holds wins over many opponents including one over David Navarro, as well as he beat Philly prospect, Rasheem Brown.

He would beat Gregory Morales, another unbeaten fighter this May as well. Add to the fact, for most of these fights he took them on a month’s notice, and some were even less than that.

The fighter out of Eddie’s Boxing Crew deserves more attention.