In a development that has rocked the kickboxing community, current K-1 Super Bantamweight champion Akihiro Kaneko is facing serious legal scrutiny after being referred to the Chiba District Public Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly causing injury to a former amateur kickboxer during training sessions.
The Chiba police submitted documents on January 16, requesting strict prosecution following an investigation that began after the man’s family contacted authorities in September of last year. The investigation included the collection of video evidence from related parties.
The alleged incidents, spanning over two and a half years, have been extensively documented by the target through photographs and text conversations. “These are all selfies I took after the current K-1 champion assaulted me under the pretext of training. For two and a half years, he treated me like a human punching bag. Not only that, he used me as his errand boy and even took my money,” the alleged target stated.
Photographic evidence shared with media outlets shows the target with severe facial swelling, rendering him nearly unrecognizable. Kaneko, 28, has denied any malicious intent, claiming it was “simply an accident during training.” He stated, “[The training partner] was in a bad position. I meant it as a way to tell him, ‘If you stand there, you’re going to get hit.'”
The target’s father expressed grave concerns: “A fighter’s fist is a lethal weapon. This kind of training should never be allowed. It’s a complete disaster. My son’s mind has been completely shattered since meeting [Kaneko], and he’s come home completely changed.”
The case took another turn when surveillance footage emerged showing Kaneko striking the target in a parking lot, which he claimed was part of their “training routine.” The target alleged, “By this time, I didn’t even have to wear body protectors. I was made to act as a ‘guinea pig’ to see how much damage his kicks and punches could do to his opponent, and I was made to film it.”
Beyond Kick was first to report.
Further allegations include financial exploitation, with the target claiming he was “controlled and brainwashed through violence” and forced to surrender his daily earnings. “No matter how hard I worked, Kaneko kept taking my money. I wanted to die,” the target revealed.
The champion, who has held his title since 2022 and recently received the “Technique Award” at the K-1 awards ceremony, faces additional scrutiny as prosecutors investigate both assault cases together. When contacted, a representative attorney for M-1 Sports Media, K-1’s organizing body, acknowledged the referral but stated, “We have no comment at this time.”
