Haraguchi Kento (原口健飛, born 9 April 1998) is a Japanese kickboxer and former boxer, currently competing in the super lightweight division of RISE. He is the current ISKA Oriental Rules World Light Welterweight (-65kg) champion, the former RISE Lightweight (-62.5 kg) champion and the 2020 RISE Dead or Alive Lightweight (-62.5 kg) tournament winner.
Haraguchi began his competitive career in Full Contact karate. He won three titles in elementary school between 2008 and 2011, four in the middle school between 2012 and 2014, as well as the Dageki Kakutougi Japan Cup in the adult featherweight event in his return to the sport in 2017. In between his two karate stints, Haraguchi fought as a professional boxer, but quit the sport after suffering his first loss in the semifinals of the 2016 West Japan Rookie of the Year tournament.
As of April 2023, Haraguchi is ranked as the fifth best super featherweight (-66 kg) kickboxer in the world by Combat Press and the sixth best super featherweight (-67.5 kg) by Beyond Kickboxing, having first entered the Combat Press divisional rankings in July 2022 and Beyond Kickboxing rankings in October 2022. He was previously ranked as a top ten super bantamweight (-64 kg) kickboxer by Combat Press between November 2020 and May 2022.
Personal life
Haraguchi married at the age of 19. He is a father of two daughters. His first daughter, Noa, was born when he was 17 and a second-year in high school.
Kickboxing career
ACCEL
ACCEL Featherweight title reign
Haraguchi made his professional debut against Shiro Kajihara at All Boxing World 10th. He won the fight by a third round technical knockout. His debut win, as well as his boxing and karate career, earned Haraguchi the chance to fight Fumihiro Uesugi at ACCEL vol.37, in Uesugi's fifth title defense. During the first round of their bout, Uesugi looked to push into the pocket behind a high guard, however, Haraguchi kept distance with a front kick and racked up damage with body kicks. Near the end of the first round, Haraguchi staggered his opponent with a left hook and knocked him down through a combination of punches. Haraguchi immediately pressured as the second round began, thoroughly dominating the champion and forcing him to take a knee three times, which awarded Hariguchi the technical knockdown.
Haraguchi participated in the RISE Dead or Alive 57 kg tournament, held at RISE 121. He was scheduled to fight Taiki Naito in the quarterfinals. The fight was ruled a draw after the first three rounds, which resulted in an extra fourth round being fought. Naito won the extra round by unanimous decision.
Haraguchi was scheduled to make his first title defense against Shogo Kuriaki at ACCEL vol.38. Although the fight was close, Haraguchi won the fight by unanimous decision, with all the judges awarding him all three rounds.
He returned to RISE at RISE 132, when he was scheduled to fight the #6 ranked RISE Super Featherweight Jun Aiolos. Haraguchi dominated the bout, knocking Aiolos down twice in the first round and twice in the second round, before Aiolos' corner threw in the towel. Haraguchi was scheduled to fight Henry Cejas in a non-title bout at ACCEL vol.39. Haraguchi fought mainly off the back-foot, slowly accumulating damage on his opponent, before knocking Cejas out with a jumping switch kick at the very end of the third round.
Road to RIZIN
Haraguchi was scheduled to participate in the Road to RIZIN Tournament, held during RISE 125. He was scheduled to fight the WBC Muaythai International Featherweight champion Momotaro in the semifinals, with the other semifinal bout being contested by Shuto Miyazaki and Yamato Fujita. Haraguchi beat Momotaro by a closely contested unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a single round, while scoring the other two rounds as draws. He was more dominant in the final bout against Shuto Miyazaki, winning once again by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-28 and 30-27). Winning the tournament earned him the opportunity to fight at the next RIZIN event.
Haraguchi was scheduled to make his second title defense against Chibita at ACCEL vol.40. Early on in the first round, Haraguchi landed a body kick which broke Chibita's ribs, while a second kick to the body resulted in the first knockdown of the fight. Haraguchi kept kicking Chibita's body which resulted in a knockout 90 seconds into the fight.
Haraguchi made his RIZIN debut at RIZIN 13, when he was scheduled to fight the former K-1 Super Featherweight champion Taiga Kawabe. The closely contested fight was ruled a majority draw, with one of the three judges awarding Haraguchi a 30-29 scorecard.