Haruto Yasumoto (安本 晴翔, Yasumoto Haruto, born 27 May 2000) is a Japanese kickboxer and muay thai fighter, currently competing in the featherweight division of RISE, where he is the current champion. He is the former KNOCKOUT RED and WBC Muaythai Japan Featherweight champion.[3]
A professional competitor since 2016, he is the former REBELS two-weight champion and the WPMF World featherweight champion.[4][5][6] Prior to making his professional debut, Yasumoto had a lengthy amateur career, during which he captured a grand total of 24 championships.
Martial arts career
Super flyweight career
Early career
Yasumoto made his professional debut against Kim Seung Min at REBELS.43 on June 1, 2016. He won the fight by a first-round spinning back fist knockout.[7]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Taiga Nakayama at Kunlun Fight 49 / Rebels 45 on August 7, 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–27 and 30–26.[8]
Yasumoto made his first appearance with Japan Kickboxing Innovation on October 9, 2016, when he was scheduled to fight Ryuta. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–28 and 29–28.[9]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Takuya Hasunuma in a REBELS and Innovation cross-promotional event on January 22, 2017. He dominated every round of the bout, with two judges awarding him a 30-27 scorecard, while the third judge scored the fight as 30-25 in his favor.[10]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Kazuya Okuwaki at REBELS.49 on March 11, 2017.[11] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 30–27 and 30–27.[12]
REBELS Super Flyweight champion
Yasumoto challenged Kiminori Matsuzaki for the REBELS Red Super Flyweight title at REBELS.51 on June 11, 2016, at just 16 years of age. His 41 year old opponent was making his first title defense. The difference in experience was likewise notable, as Matsuzaki was a 39–fight veteran, while Yasumoto was making only his sixth professional appearance.[13] Yasumoto won the fight by a unanimous decision, with scores of 49–47, 49–47 and 49–46, spending the majority of the bout pressuring and attempting to overwhelm Matsuzaki. Matsuzaki's sole moment of success was a left elbow in the third round, which resulted in a doctor check due to a cut before Yasumoto was allowed to continue fighting.[4]
For the first fight of his title reign, Yasumoto was scheduled to face Yuya Kosaka in a non-title bout at ROAD TO KNOCK OUT.2 on July 20, 2017.[14] The evenly contested fight was ruled a draw by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 29–29.[15]
Super bantamweight career
Move up in weight
Yasumoto was scheduled to face the #4 ranked RISE bantamweight Yugo Flyskygym at RISE 119 on September 15, 2017. The fight was contested at 55 kg, which was a 3 kg increase from Yasumoto's previous bouts.[16] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout due to repeated body shots which forced the referee to stop the fight. The knockout was preceded by a right hook which resulted in a knockdown.[17]
Yasumoto moved back down to 53 kg for his next fight, against Lampoochai Kaewsamrit at Japan Kickboxing Innovation on October 18, 2017.[18] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 30–29.[19]
Yasumoto was scheduled to fight Takahiro Sakuragi at Japan Kickboxing Innovation Champions Carnival 2017 on December 17, 2017. The fight was contested at 57 kg, the heaviest that Yasumoto weighed in at so far in his career. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout as 30–29.[20]
Yasumoto remained at 57 kg for his next fight, against Yuudai Hamamoto at REBELS.55 on April 27, 2018. He notched his second ever stoppage victory, winning by a second-round technical knockout. The first knockdown was scored with a head kick, while the remaining two were scored with a left straight.[21]
Yasumoto remained at 57 kg from that point on. He was next scheduled to face Dawsakorn Mor.Tasanai at REBELS.57 on August 3, 2018.[22] The fight was ruled a majority draw after the first three rounds, with one judge scoring it for Dawsakorn, while the remaining two scored it as an even 29–29 draw. The judges were split in the same manner after an extra round was fought.[23]
Innovation Super Bantamweight champion
Yasumoto fought Kazuto for the Innovation Super Bantamweight title at Japan Kickboxing Innovation on December 16, 2018.[24] He won the fight by a third-round knockout. During the first minute of the round, Yasumoto landed a body shot which crumpled Kazuto. Kazuto was able to beat the eight-count, but quickly succumbed to a second body shot.[25]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face the Shootboxing SB Japan Super Bantamweight champion Seiki Ueyama at SHOOT BOXING 2019 act.1 on February 11, 2019 in a non-title bout.[26] Ueyama won the fight by majority decision, with scores of 30–27, 29–29 and 29–28, handing Yasumoto his first professional loss. The most significant moment of the bout came in the third round when Ueyama managed to catch Yasumoto in a standing front choke. Although he wasn't able to finish it, Ueyama was awarded a catch point for an effective attack.[27]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Hannya Hashimoto in his return to REBELS at REBELS.60 on April 20, 2019. The fight was contested at 59 kg, which was yet another increase in weight for Yasumoto.[28] He dominated every round of the bout, winning by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–26, 30–26 and 30–25.[29]
Featherweight career
REBELS Featherweight champion
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Shogo Kuriaki at REBELS.61 on June 9, 2019, for the REBELS Featherweight title.[2] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 49–47, 49–47 and 49–46. Kuriaki had the most success during the third round, during which he caused a cut on Yasumoto which required a doctor check.[5]
Yasumoto was scheduled to fight Shunta at K.O CLIMAX 2019 SUMMER KICK FEVER on August 18, 2019.[30] He won the fight by a fifth-round knockout.[31]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Arato at KNOCK OUT × REBELS on October 4, 2019.[32] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.[33]
Yasumoto fought Plem TC.MuayThai for the WPMF World Featherweight title at JAPAN KICKBOXING INNOVATION on November 17, 2019.[34] He won the fight by a first-round knockout.[6]
Yasumoto was scheduled to fight Daosayam Nor.Naksin at the inaugural KNOCK OUT CHAMPIONSHIP event on February 11, 2020.[35] He won the fight by split decisoon, with scores of 29–28, 28–29 and 30–29.[36]
Yasumoto appeared at the second KNOCK OUT CHAMPIONSHIP event as well, being scheduled to face Visanlek Meibukai on September 12, 2020.[37] He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[38]
Yasumoto made his last appearance with REBELS, before its merger with KNOCKOUT, against BEN Samurai Y'ZD at REBELS 67 on November 8, 2020.[39] He won the fight by a second-round spinning back kick knockout.[40]
KNOCKOUT RED Featherweight champion
Following the REBELS and KNOCKOUT merger, Yasumoto was announced as the KNOCKOUT RED champion.[3] His first appearance as the KNOCKOUT champion was a non-title bout against Phetsila FurumuraGym at KNOCK OUT ~The REBORN~ on March 13, 2021. He won the fight by a second-round knockout.[41]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Kenichi Takeuchi at KNOCK OUT 2021 vol.3 on July 18, 2021.[42] He won the fight by a third-round knockout, landing a head kick at the 0:30 minute mark.[43]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face Ryuto Matsumoto for the WBC Muay Thai Japan Featherweight title at NJKF 2021 3rd on September 19, 2021.[44] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[45]
Yasumoto faced Taisei Kakuda at KNOCK OUT 2021 vol.6 on November 28, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29-25, 29-26 and 29-27.[46]
On February 8, 2022, it was announced that Yasumoto would fight at Chakuriki 15 on April 27, 2022,[47] against former MAX Muay Thai champion Yodprapsuek Sor Ninthai.[48] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Yasmuoto knocked Yodprapsuek twice before the stoppage, first time with a right straight and the second time with a flurry of strikes.[49]
Yasumoto was scheduled to face veteran Yosuke Morii at NO KICK NO LIFE on May 28, 2022. This would mark his debut above the 60 kg limit.[50] He won the fight by a third-round knockout.[51]
RISE
On June 19, 2022, it was announced that Yasumoto had signed with RISE.[52] On July 28, three weeks after he had signed with RISE, it was announced that Yasumoto had vacated the KNOCKOUT RED featherweight title.[53] He made his promotional return against Mehrdad Sayyadi at RISE 160 on July 29, 2022.[54] Yasumoto won the fight by a first-round knockout.[55] The bout was later reviewed and changed to a no contest, as Sayyadi was stopped with an elbow, which is an illegal strike under the RISE rule-set.[56]
Yasumoto faced the sixth-ranked RISE featherweight Kensei Yamakawa at RISE Word Series 2022 on October 15, 2022.[57] He needed just 64 seconds to stop Yamakawa.[58]
Yasumoto faced the two-weight Shootboxing champion Kyo Kawakami, in a Shootboxing rules bout, at RISE WORLD SERIES / SHOOTBOXING-KINGS on December 25, 2022.[59] Although Yasumoto was able to fight to a draw following the first three rounds, he lost the fight by majority decision after the extra fourth round was contested.[60]
Yasumoto faced Kiyoto Takahashi at NO KICK NO LIFE Okayama Gym 50th Anniversary Event on May 21, 2023.[63] He won the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges awarded Yasumoto a narrow 49–48 scorecard, while the third judge scored the bout as an even 49–49 draw.[64]
Yasumoto was expected to face Kaito Sakaguchi at RISE World Series 2023 Osaka on July 2, 2023.[65] He withdrew from the fight on June 1, due to compartment syndrome in his left leg he sustained in his previous fight with Takahashi, which left him unable to walk.[66] The contest was rescheduled for RISE World Series 2023 - 2nd Round, which took place on August 26, 2023.[67] He lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–27, 29–28 and 29–28.[68]
Yasumoto faced Taiki Sawatani at RISE 173 on November 18, 2023.[69] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 30–29.[70]