Veteran five-time strawweight titlist Katsunari Takayama retired earlier today at a press conference at the Hotel IL Monte, Osaka, Japan.

"I made up my mind to hang up my gloves," Takayama (35-9, 12 knockouts) told The Ring through Ryohei Maio. "Throughout my professional boxing career, for a quarter of a century, I have learned and found a lot of beautiful things.

"I am obliged to many of the people who gave me a huge amount of support in my career. Thank you, because of you, I could challenge the impossible."

Takayama, turned professional in 2000, won the WBC title against Isaac Bustos (UD 12) in 2005 but lost it in his first defense to Eagle Den Junlaphan (UD 12).

He came up short in world title attempts to WBA ruler Yutaka Niida (SD 12) and WBA titlist Roman Gonzalez (UD 12), who had beaten Niida.

It was after losing to Gonzalez that Takayama made the surprise move to hand in his JBC licence to fight overseas for the IBF and WBO titles which at that point weren't recognized in Japan.

Takayama took to the road and after winning an IBF eliminator in South Africa, he twice returned there and fought IBF beltholder Nkosinathi Joyi (NC 3/ L UD 12).

Unperturbed he headed to Mexico and unseated Mario Rodriguez (SD 12) to become the IBF champion. He registered two successful defenses in Japan after the JBC began recognizing both organizations from April 2013. He lost a unification to WBO titlist Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (UD 12) in Mexico.

After Rodriguez decided he couldn't make 105-pounds both the IBF and WBO titles became vacant and Takayama won them both against Go Odaira (TKO 7). He subsequently vacated the WBO title and reeled off two defenses of his IBF belt in Japan before losing to Jose Argumedo (TD 9).

The grizzled warrior claimed one more title when he regained the WBO strap against Riku Kano (TD 6).

At that point Takayama decided to retire from professional boxing and switched his attentions to the amateur code where he wanted to try to represent Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

However, he was unable to qualify and returned to professional boxing in 2020 after a four-year absence.

He came up short against WBO junior flyweight titleholder Elwin Soto (TKO 9) but won three fights including, most recently, against Kha Lu (UD 12) for the IBO 105-pound title.

Takayama, who will turn 42 in May, will begin a new job at his sponsors, a pharmaceutical company.