Sei, I met Naoko in Japan, about 12 years ago, when she was only 17, and fighting the great Ella Yee, in only her second pro-fight. She was ko'ed by the the great British Champ, and immediately asked for a rematch. ( I thought she was crazy) But, She was granted a rematch about nine months later, and took the world champion the distance. (I knew then this lady was special.) It just Goes to show how a little a ko means over a very young and green fighter)
Since that time she she has improved exponentially, and has avenged three her five losses. (with the exception of the two losses to Yee, (both of which occured before her eighteenth birthday) who retired some time ago.
I supose you can get her complete fight history from the Fudokhan web page. Of course, I will be happy to e-mail it to you, complete with names and dates places, and the titles that were at stake....if that would be easier. Yes, I have a tape of Bridgett ko'ing Gerula. It was a brutal ko, indeed!! Methinks Olivia was in a bit over her head...she was 5-0 at the time, and 18 uears old.
Lisa "little Sugar" Smith, was trained by Eric Nolan, and Kathy Long, who often worked her corner...Kathy took a special interest in Lisa, and taught her well.
As for Long, and Kyoko, Kathy knocked her down two or three times in the final round, and Kyoko was standing for the final bell. Love her or hate her, she can take a punch!!!
Canno was an excellent Kickboxer-better than she was at boxing, by a long shot. Ditto Riley. Why peole don;t respect the sprot they do best and remain there...Reninds me of all pro loinebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, Ed "too Tall"
Jones, getting punched and around and taking a beating from a not too talented club fighter. Sad, the as an athlete couldn;t carry "Too Talls" jock strap. But, hey, like Mark Gastineau, and other idiots who thought atletic ability could translate from one sport to another, he simply made a foolk of himslef, and tarnished hois image. Ditto some of these gerat female Muay Thai fighters, who switched to pro-boxing, after amassing incredible records in Muay Thai..then end up getting beat by mediocre boxers. Andsadly, that's the way theyu will be remebered...I won'tname any names. They know who they are.
But, I will remind them; the skills, stance, movements, etc, that make a person a great Thai Boxer, are the very skills, that make one a mediocre (at best) as a straight boxer. Not quite as true for "full contact" fighters, who have the same target areas (above the waist) and who often have very good footwork. (But they STILL need to crouch, close their stance, bob and weave) tactics which would be disaster fighting under Thai rules.
But even there, the transition is difficult. And with the advent of women's amature boxing, the number of recyled kickboxers, who successfully transition to straight boxing plummets as we speak.
Anyone who wants to box, needs to fight amature. Question: how many male kickboxers have become world boxing champions?? Maybe one, or two. Count them on the fingers of one hand. Why? Becasue male boxers genarally learned to box from the amatures, which is the far superior road. Women who wish to box, should take heed. The chances for recycled kickboxers to become world champs in western boxing, are rapidly eroding.
And by the way, Cheers to Lisa Houghton and other great Muay Thai fighters, who don't sell out. But instead choose to hang in there, promoting the sport, doing a great job, and making deep footprints.....They will have a real legacy. And it won't be: "she tried professional boxing and was defeated by (fill in the blank) who was a mediocre opponent."

Have a great week,and drop me an e-mail.I would like to ask you something.
cucich@mindspring.com
My Best,

Dan

PS: Toots, I know very little about Atsuko...I will ask some Japanese friends.
It's pronounced: "Aaatsko" the "u" is silent. .