Guts Ishimatsu

Yuji Suzuki was born on 5 June 1949 in Kiyosu village, Kamitsuga District, Tochigi Prefecture. The area later became part of the town of Awano and is now within the city of Kanuma. He grew up in a family of limited means, and Japanese newspapers later recalled that he was a tough leader among the boys at junior high school.

He completed junior high school in Tochigi. He had hoped to become a physical education teacher, but his family could not afford further schooling, so he moved to Tokyo to work and train as a boxer. He failed his first professional boxing test before qualifying.

Boxing. Training at the Yonekura Boxing Gym under chairman Kenji Yonekura and trainer Eddie Townsend, he debuted on 11 December 1966 with a first round knockout. He boxed first as Ishimatsu Suzuki before taking the ring name Guts Ishimatsu. He was the 1969 All-Japan lightweight rookie of the year, upset Jaguar Kakizawa in January 1970, lost a WBA and WBC title challenge to Ismael Laguna in Panama in June 1970 (13th round stoppage), drew with Masataka Takayama for the Japanese title in 1971, and won the OPBF lightweight title from Shinichi Kadota in January 1972. Roberto Duran stopped him in the 10th round of a WBA title fight in Panama in September 1973.

On 11 April 1974 he knocked out Rodolfo Gonzalez in eight rounds in Tokyo to win the WBC lightweight title. His defences: a draw with Arturo Pineda (September 1974), a 12th round knockout of Gonzalez in Osaka (November 1974), a decision over Ken Buchanan in Tokyo (February 1975), a decision over Pineda in Osaka (June 1975) and a 14th round knockout of Alvaro Rojas in Tokyo (December 1975). He lost the belt to Esteban De Jesus on points in Puerto Rico on 8 May 1976, was stopped by Saensak Muangsurin in a WBC junior welterweight title fight in 1977, and boxed for the last time in 1978. Final record: 51 fights, 31 wins (17 KOs), 14 losses, 6 draws.

Entertainment. He first appeared on a variety show in 1974, the day after winning his title, and became a Quiz Derby regular from 1976. His habit of answering "OK Bokujo" to quiz questions became a famous running joke. As an actor he appeared in Kobe Kokusai Gang (1975), Empire of the Sun (1987), Black Rain (1989), Minbo no Onna (1992) and many television dramas including Oshin, Kita no Kuni kara and Ultraman series. He directed Comeback (1990) and Tsumi to Batsu (2011). He also released records, beginning with the single Ishimatsu Otoko-bushi in 1974, and wrote books including Jinsei wa OK Bokujo! (2004).

Politics and boxing community. He ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in Tokyo's 9th district in 1996 for the Liberal Democratic Party. In 2010 he became the first president of the Pro Boxing World Champions Association.

He was married and had a daughter at the time he won his world title. His eldest daughter, Yuki Suzuki, became a television personality and frequently worked with him. He idolised the actor Ken Takakura from childhood and was close to Bunta Sugawara, with whom he co-founded the "Kaminari Oyaji no Kai" (Thundering Fathers' Society) in 1981 alongside Eita Yashiro, Koichi Wajima and Naomi Uemura. He was famously fond of bananas. Long before his death he built a family grave, the "Guts family grave", carrying an OK Bokujo inscription, at a cemetery in his home city of Kanuma.

In a 2007 interview with the newspaper Shimbun Akahata he spoke in support of Article 9, the peace clause of Japan's constitution. In 1996 he nonetheless stood for parliament as a Liberal Democratic Party candidate. He often spoke about perseverance and getting back up after defeat, themes his daughter echoed after his death.

He was the first Japanese boxer to win a world title at lightweight. The "guts pose" (gattsu pozu) is widely associated with his 1974 victory, and 11 April is observed in Japan as Guts Pose Day. Japanese Wikipedia notes he popularised rather than invented the gesture. The term later spread into video games as a name for victory celebrations. His catchphrase "OK Bokujo" remains part of Japanese popular culture.

WBC world lightweight champion (1974 to 1976, five defences). OPBF lightweight champion (1972). All-Japan lightweight rookie of the year (1969). WBC fighter of the month after his February 1975 win over Ken Buchanan. First president of the Pro Boxing World Champions Association (2010).

Films: Kobe Kokusai Gang (1975), Empire of the Sun (1987), Black Rain (1989), Comeback (1990, also director), Minbo no Onna (1992), Tsumi to Batsu (2011, director). Television: Quiz Derby (regular from 1976), Ultraman 80, Oshin, Kita no Kuni kara, Ultraman Tiga, Trick, Mare. Music: Ishimatsu Otoko-bushi (1974). Books include Jinsei wa OK Bokujo! (Gentosha, 2004). Hanawa's 2004 song "Densetsu no Otoko: Viva Guts" was written about him.

During his boxing career he was arrested after a street brawl in Ikebukuro involving his brother. Police accepted that he acted in self defence and he was released after two days without charge. His manager was angered after the 1973 Duran fight, during which Ishimatsu remarked that Duran was "too strong, I can't win." In 2006 he publicly criticised the judging of a Koki Kameda title fight and publicly debated the boxer's father, Shiro Kameda. His 1996 election defeat left him with roughly 300 million yen in debt.

He was in good health until May 2026, when he fell ill and developed pneumonia. He died at a hospital in Tokyo on 2 June 2026, aged 76. His daughter Yuki said she was holding his hand, his "phantom right", as he passed away peacefully. Guts Enterprise announced the death on 11 June 2026 on his official X account. A private funeral was held with close relatives, and his posthumous Buddhist name is Tenshoin Kenno Keiyu Koji. A public farewell ceremony was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on 2 September 2026, attended by about 600 people, including about 40 world champions such as Fighting Harada, Yoko Gushiken and Naoya Inoue. The ceremony ended with all attendees shouting "OK Bokujo" together, at the family's wish.