Takahiro Ao

Takahiro Ao (Japanese粟 生 隆 寛, Ao Takahiro, born April 6, 1984 in Ichihara, Japan) is a Japanese professional boxer, former WBC featherweight champion and former WBC world champion in the super featherweight.

Takahiro Ao fought so far exclusively in Japan and remained unbeaten in his first 17 professional fights. On 3 March 2007, he became a unanimous points victory over Koji Umetsu, Japanese featherweight champion and defended the title against Keisuke Akiba and Noriyuki Ueno. His attempt to secure the Oriental - Pacific Championship title on April 5, 2008 ended in a draw against the undefeated title holder Hiroyuki Enoki, which Enoki retained his title.

On 16 October 2008 he pushed to the world title the WBC featherweight, but lost the title winner Óscar Larios divided on points. However, the direct rematch on 12 March 2009, he won by unanimous decision and superior and thus was the new world champion. But in his first title defense, he lost his championship belt by points defeat at the Dominican Elio Rojas.

Subsequently he rose to the super featherweight and beat the two top boxer Feider Viloria and Whyber Garcia. On 26 November 2010 he defeated the reigning WBC champion in this weight class, the Germans Vitali Tajbert and thus won his second world title. Tajbert was already in round 3 at the bottom and eventually lost after 12 rounds clearly on points. Then Ao defended his title on April 8, 2011 by KO in the 4th round against the Mexican Humberto Gutierrez.

In November 2011 and in April 2012 he also defended his title on points each against the undefeated former world junior champion Devis Boschiero ( 29-0 ), as well as against Terdsak Kokietgym ( 46-3 ). In October 2012, he lost the title by point defeat to the Mexicans Gamaliel Diaz ( 36-9 ).