Guts Ishimatsu memorial service held at Korakuen Hall

A memorial service was held at Korakuen Hall to honor Guts Ishimatsu, the former WBC world lightweight champion and popular entertainer, who passed away in June 2026 at the age of 76 due to pneumonia.

The ceremony featured a boxing ring as the central altar, decorated with red carnations arranged in the shape of Ishimatsu’s signature ‘guts pose.’ The event was attended by 41 former and current world boxing champions, including Naoya Inoue and Fighting Harada.

During the service, former champion Yutaka Gushiken delivered a moving tribute, noting that Ishimatsu had encouraged him to promote boxing. Hideyuki Ohashi shared anecdotes regarding Ishimatsu’s technical skills, specifically his ‘phantom right’ punch. The ceremony concluded with a traditional 10-count gong to honor his legacy as a fighter.