Japanese boxing sensation Nanako Suzuki on her work ethic and poker face
Don’t be fooled by her sweet face – Japanese boxing sensation Nanako Suzuki means business in the ring.
“I want to show everyone my boxing skills – a lot of people write me off because of my appearance and young age,” said the 19-year-old, who also started her first year of university at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan, in April.
“I want to win over Hong Kong fans, and I want fans everywhere to root for me regardless of whether I’m from Japan or Hong Kong.”
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And win them over she did – the crowd cheered wildly as she knocked out Hongkonger Rice Wong, during DEF Promotion’s Road to Glory II on July 14 at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai.
It was only Nanako’s second professional fight, yet she defeated her opponent with ease and forced her corner to throw in the towel.
Nanako, whose fight was one of the major draws of the event, said she was surprised with how much attention she got from the media.
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“In Japan there are a lot of boxers, so being a new boxer doesn’t attract too much attention. Here, it seems like there is more of a market.”
Nanako’s talent and work ethic are undeniable. “Every day I run from 7am to 8am before class. I then study until the evening, go home and grab my boxing gear, and train until 9pm.”
She has been a fighter since she was a little girl, as she started taking karate lessons when she was four years old. In fact, she originally started boxing when she was 13 to complement her karate training.
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“After I started boxing, I found that I liked it a lot more and felt a lot happier than when I was training for karate,” she said. “I found it really difficult at first, and I really wanted to improve. The more I practised, the more I improved, which was very satisfying. Overall, I think boxing is a more enjoyable sport than karate.”
She hopes to inspire more young girls to try boxing – and wants to shed the stereotype that it’s a sport solely for men. “Boxing is for everybody at any age,” Nanako said. “Don’t hesitate if you’re thinking about boxing; just go for it.”
She seemed incredibly calm and composed for a 19-year-old headlining an international show for the first time. But Nanako admitted the experience was a little bit nerve-racking.
Photo: Def Promotions
“It’s [just] a poker face,” she admitted. “I may [be nervous] but I’m just not showing [it]. I certainly cannot let my opponent see.”
Nanako has enjoyed her time in the city and particularly enjoyed tasting local Hong Kong delicacies like beef tendon noodles, fish balls, and gai daan zai or egg waffles.
She said fighting in Hong Kong was “a dream come true” and, given her success and how popular she was with the media and fans, it’s safe to say she will be returning to the city to fight.
Edited by Nicole Moraleda
Ben Young
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