Erika (kickboxer)

Japanese kickboxer

erika♡

Born| Erika Gibo
(1990-02-06) February 6, 1990 (age 35)
Naha, Japan
Native name| 宜保枝里香
Nickname| Miko no Heroine
Nationality| Japanese
Height| 161 cm (5 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Weight| 49 kg (108 lb; 7 st 10 lb)
Style| Kickboxing
Stance| Southpaw
Fighting out of| Tomari, Japan
Team| SHINE Okinawa
Years active| 2018–2024
Kickboxing record
Total| 16
Wins| 13
By knockout| 3
Losses| 3
By knockout| 1
Mixed martial arts record
Total| 1
Wins| 1
Losses| 0

Erika Gibo (Japanese: 宜保枝里香, Gibo Erika, born February 6, 1990), more popularly known by her ring name erika♡, is a retired Japanese professional kickboxer. She is the former RISE Women's Mini Flyweight champion.

As of November 2023, she is the #1 ranked women's strawweight kickboxer in the world according to Beyond Kick.[1]

## Kickboxing career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

erika made her professional debut against Chizuru Nanase at Tenkaichi 92 on November 25, 2018. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[2] erika won all five of her fights in the next two years, amassing an undefeated 5–0 win streak, most notably overcoming Koto Hiraoka at REBELS 65 on August 30, 2020.[3][4][5]

erika faced the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) champion in the quarterfinals of the RISE "Queen of Queens" tournament, held at RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Yokohama. She lost the fight by a clear unanimous decision.[6][7]

erika faced MARI in an NJKF Atomweight title eliminator bout at DEEP☆KICK 48 on December 12, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[8] erika then challenged Momoka Mandokoro for the NJKF Minerva Atomweight (–46 kg) Championship at DEEP☆KICK Minerva Osaka Tournament on January 30, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[9]

erika made her KNOCK OUT debut against Shoko at KNOCK OUT-EX vol.2 on June 12, 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–27.[10] erika returned to NJKF to face Ayaka in a non-title bout at NJKF 2021 3rd on September 19, 2021.[11] She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–28.[12]

### RISE

[edit]

#### Move up in weight

[edit]

erika moved up to mini-flyweight, following her final fight under the NJKF banner, and was scheduled to face AKARI at RISE 153 on December 12, 2021.[13] The fight was ruled a draw by unanimous decision after the first three rounds were contested. erika was awarded a unanimous decision win after an extra fourth round was fought.[14]

erika, at the time the #1 ranked RISE mini flyweight contender, was booked to face the #3 ranked contender Wakana Miyazaki at RISE Girls Power 6 on February 12, 2022.[15] She lost the fight by majority decision, with scores of 29–28, 29–27 and 28–28.[16]

#### Mini flyweight champion

[edit]

On March 25, 2023, it was announced that a mini flyweight tournament would be held to crown a new RISE champion, as the reigning RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) champion Hinata Terayama had vacated her title. erika was booked to face Moe Okura in the tournament semifinals, which were held on April 24, 2023.[17] She won the fight by a second-round knockout.[18] erika faced the one-time RISE Mini Flyweight title challenger AKARI in the tournament finals at RISE 159 on June 24, 2023.[19] She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 50–48, 49–47 and 50–46. erika became the first Okinawa-born champion in RISE history.[20]

erika faced Byun Bo-Kyeong at Tenkaichi 97 on August 20, 2023, following a 14-month absence from professional competition.[21] She won the fight by unanimous decision, with three scorecards of 30–26, having dropped Bo-Kyeong in the second round.[22]

erika made her first RISE Women's Mini Flyweight title defense against the one-time RISE Women's Atomweight title challenger Arina Kobayashi at RISE 173 on November 18, 2023.[23] She lost the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[24]

On October 7, 2024, erika announced her retirement as kickboxer.[25]

## Mixed martial arts career

[edit]

### Shooto

[edit]

erika made her professional debut against Haruka Yoshinari at Shooto Colors vol.4 on December 15, 2024. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]

## Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

### Kickboxing

[edit]

* New Japan Kickboxing Federation
* 2021 NJKF Minerva Atomweight (–46 kg) Championship
* RISE
* 2022 RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Tournament Winner
* 2022 RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship

### Mixed martial arts

[edit]

#### Amateur

[edit]

* Shooto
* 2024 Shooto All Japan Amateur Championship Flyweight Winner[27]

## Kickboxing record

[edit]

Professional Kickboxing Record  13 Wins (2 (T)KOs), 3 Losses, 0 Draws

Date  | Result  | Opponent | Event | Location  | Method | Round | Time
2023-11-18 | Loss |  Arina Kobayashi | RISE 173 | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Punches) | 2 | 0:11
Loses the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship.
2023-08-20 | Win |  Byun Bo-Kyeong | Tenkaichi 97 | Okinawa, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
2022-06-24 | Win |  AKARI | RISE 159 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00
Wins the RISE Women's Mini Flyweight (–49 kg) Championship.
2022-05-24 | Win |  Moe Okura | RISE 157 \- Mini Flyweight Championship Tournament Semifinals | Tokyo, Japan | KO (Left knee) | 2 | 2:42
2022-02-12 | Loss |  Wakana Miyazaki | RISE Girls Power 6 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 3:00
2021-12-12 | Win |  AKARI | RISE 153 | Tokyo, Japan | Ext.R. Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00
2021-09-19 | Win |  Ayaka | NJKF 2021 3rd | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 2:00
2021-06-12 | Win |  Shoko JSK | KNOCK OUT-EX vol.2 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
2021-01-30 | Win |  Momoka Mandokoro | DEEP☆KICK Minerva Osaka Tournament | Izumiōtsu, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 2:00
Wins the NJKF Minerva Atomweight (–46 kg) Championship.
2020-12-12 | Win |  MARI | DEEP☆KICK 48 | Izumiōtsu, Japan | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 2:00
2020-11-10 | Loss |  Hinata Terayama | RISE DEAD OR ALIVE 2020 Yokohama, Tournament Quarterfinals | Yokohama, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
2020-08-30 | Win |  Koto Hiraoka | REBELS 65 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
2020-03-15 | Win |  Ami | Tenkaichi 96 | Uechi, Japan | KO (Knee to the body) | 1 | 1:22
2020-01-26 | Win |  Honoka | DUEL 20 | Tokyo, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
2019-10-20 | Win |  Kana | MAGNUM 51 | Tokyo, Japan | TKO (Three knockdowns) | 2 | 1:53
2018-11-25 | Win |  Chizuru Nanase | Tenkaichi 92 | Okinawa, Japan | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
Legend:  Win  Loss  Draw/No contest  Notes

## Mixed martial arts record

[edit]

Professional record breakdown  1 match | 1 win | 0 losses

|
|

By decision | 1  | 0

Res.  | Record  | Opponent  | Method  | Event  | Date  | Round  | Time  | Location  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Win  | 1–0  | Haruka Yoshinari  | Decision (Unanimous)  | Shooto Colors vol.4  | 15 December 2024 | 2  | 5:00  | Tokyo, Japan |
Amateur record breakdown |

|

1 match | 1 win | 0 losses
By knockout | 1  | 0
Res.  | Record  | Opponent  | Method  | Event  | Date  | Round  | Time  | Location  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Win  | 1–0  | Gianna Giaimi  | TKO (punches)  | 2024 Shooto All Japan Amateur Championship  | 6 October 2024 | 1  | 1:16  | Odawara, Japan | Won 2024 Shooto All Japan Amateur Flyweight title

## See also

[edit]

* List of female kickboxers
* List of female mixed martial artists

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kickboxing Rankings November 2023". Beyond Kickboxing - The Home of Kickboxing. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
2. ^ "真美 VS ＫＡＥＤＥ、芳美 VS エミＮＦＣ、山本ユノカ VS ＩＭＡＲＩ、ｅｒｉｋａ♥ VS ほのか、七瀬千鶴 VS ピーポー梨乃、山岸愛子 VS ＥＲＩＫＯ 結果 NJKF DUEL.20第１部 キックボクシング女子". QR クイーンズ・オブ・ザ・リング (in Japanese). 26 January 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
3. ^ "【REBELS】"怖いお姉さん"平岡琴がerikaをKO宣言、ぱんちゃんとMISAKIにも「今すぐやって勝てる」". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
4. ^ "【REBELS】3人の子供を持つシングルマザーファイターerika「練習があるから育児も仕事も頑張れる」". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
5. ^ "【レベルス】平岡琴敗れる、沖縄の新鋭・erika♡がパンチ連打でデビュー5連勝". efight.jp. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
6. ^ "寺山日葵が紅絹を破り女子最強決定トーナメント優勝【RISE】". tokyoheadline.com. November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
7. ^ "寺山日葵が優勝「強くなって上に」紅絹を判定で破る". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
8. ^ "DEEP☆KICK 48･49 結果速報". DEEP☆KICK (in Japanese). 13 December 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
9. ^ "女子キックの祭典『ミネルヴァOSAKA』激闘、百花陥落! erika♡がNJKFミネルヴァアトム級新王者に!!". miruhon.net. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
10. ^ "ミネルヴァ・アトム級王者erika♡が祥子JSKを圧倒。sasoriとドローの喜多村美紀が判定勝ちで再起【KNOCK OUT】". tokyoheadline.com. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
11. ^ "【NJKF】女子王者対決、アトム級王者erikaとピン級王者Ayakaが激突". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
12. ^ "【NJKF】安本晴翔がTKO勝ちでWBCムエタイ日本王者＆11連勝、健太が100戦記念を勝利で飾る". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
13. ^ "RISE 12.12 後楽園ホール：erika♡「49kgは自分の力を思う存分発揮できる体重」×AKARI「10戦の中で一番しんどい試合になる」 | BOUTREVIEW". boutreview.com (in Japanese). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
14. ^ "erikaがランキング1位のAKARIを破りミニフライ級王者・寺山日葵への挑戦をアピール【RISE153】". tokyoheadline.com. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
15. ^ "【RISE_GP】erika vs宮崎若菜、平岡琴vs田渕涼香、大倉萌vs AYAなど一挙6カードを発表＝女子限定大会". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
16. ^ "宮﨑若菜がランキング1位のerika♡を破り王者・寺山日葵への挑戦アピールも伊藤代表は「混沌としてきたのでもう一度考え直したい」【RISE】". tokyoheadline.com. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
17. ^ "RISE 4.24 後楽園ホール：寺山日葵返上QUEENミニフライ級王座懸け宮﨑若菜×AKARI 3、erika♡大倉萌でトーナメント一回戦。永尾音波が初参戦。良星×大森隆之介、SEIDO×小野幹晃、澤谷大樹×戸井田大輝ほか決定 | BOUTREVIEW". boutreview.com (in Japanese). 25 March 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
18. ^ "【RISE】止まらないerika♡の強打爆発！大倉萌をKO撃破しトーナメント決勝一番乗り". efight.jp. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
19. ^ "【RISE】"美脚炸裂シンデレラ"AKARI、erika♡との雪辱戦に「どん底に突き落とし返す」公開練習では強烈なパンチも披露". efight.jp. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
20. ^ "erika♡がAKARIの気持ちを折っての判定勝ちで悲願の王座獲得。「うれしいが満足はしていない。最強を目指す」【RISE159】". tokyoheadline.com. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
21. ^ "『2023.8.20 TENKAICHI97開催決定』". TENKAICHI（天下一）公式ブログ (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2023.
22. ^ "erika♥、Yuka☆、堀田優月が勝利【試合結果】erika♥vsビョン・ボギョン、MARIが階級をあげランキング戦に！MARIvsYuka☆、堀田優月vsこなみ☆8.20「TENKAICHI97」沖縄". Lady Go！ (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2023.
23. ^ "erika♡が小林愛理奈を相手に初防衛戦。勝って海外の強豪との戦いへ意欲【RISE173】 | TOKYO HEADLINE". tokyoheadline.com (in Japanese). 14 September 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
24. ^ "【RISE】小林愛理奈が豪打でerikaにＴＫＯ勝ち「天国のおばあちゃんに見せられて良かった」 - 格闘技 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 November 2023.
25. ^ "【RISE】"三児のヒロイン"第2代RISE QUEENミニフライ級王者のerikaがキック引退を発表、アマチュア修斗に出場して優勝も". gonkaku.jp. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
26. ^ "【修斗COLORS】パク・ソヨンが檜山美樹子に1R 腕十字でインフィニティリーグ全勝優勝！ 16歳・NOELが20歳の平田彩音を絞め落として逆転勝ち". gonkaku.jp (in Japanese). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
27. ^ "修斗 10.6 小田原アリーナ（レポ）：第30回全日本アマチュア修斗選手権で元RISE王者のerika♡が女子フライ級優勝". boutreview.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.