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Emiko Raika (来家 恵美子, born January 24, 1975, in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese female professional boxer and mixed martial artist.
Although more Japanese women have taken up traditionally male sports such as karate, kickboxing and wrestling in recent years, many in Japan still believe that women should not box, because of the injury risk. Raika, who has suffered a broken nose and an eye socket fracture in fights, shrugs off the possibility of injuries. "When I told friends that I want to become a boxer, they were surprised and put down my decision because I am a woman," said Raika. "But I had to resist. I like boxing and I wanted to do it. In fact, I am expressing myself through boxing. I am fighting not to beat the opponent, but for myself."
"I felt as if I were not living and felt myself destroying." said Raika, "I was very weak mentally. I could choose to have an ordinary life, but I wanted more than just that - to become strong."
Raika had three wins in three amateur fights, and was named the most outstanding woman in a local amateur tournament, where she was spotted by Toshihiro Yamaki, a Tokyo gym owner.
With a growing number of Japanese women becoming interested in boxing, a group of gym owners had organized a women's boxing association in 1999, with Yamaki as its secretary general, called the Japanese Women's Boxing Commission (JWBC).
Yamaki was impressed by Raika, and asked her to join his gym and turn professional. She now devotes full-time to boxing.
Raika won the WIBA Featherweight World title from Australian Sharon Anyos in 2001, and successfully defended the title in a 2002 rematch. After destroying an overmatched Shelby Walker in two rounds for her second title defence on May 23, 2004, Raika made her 3rd title defence against the rugged (and undefeated) brawler Melissa Fiorentino on September 18, 2004, in Kyoto, Japan. It was called the WIBA 2004 Fight of the Year, Raika again successfully defended her crown via 10-round decision in a brutal toe-to-toe slugfest.
Raika then vacated her world title at featherweight (126 pounds) to move up in weight to the super featherweight division (130 pounds).
On March 13, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika lost a 10-round decision to Chevelle Hallback for the vacant WIBA Super Featherweight World Title.
On October 1, 2005, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won an 8-round decision over Belinda Laracuente.
On May 20, 2006, in Cholla Province, Korea, Raika moved up another 2 weight classes, to 140 pounds, where she won a 10-round unanimous decision over Won Mi Chung, for the IFBA Light Welterweight World Title.
On June 10, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika knocked out Yoko Takahashi in the 4th round with a body shot.
On December 15, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan, Raika won a 10-round unanimous decision over Terri Blair to win the vacant WIBA Lightweight World Title.
| 34 | Loss | Choi Hyunmi | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Aug 15, 2013 | Wolmido, Icheon | ||
| 33 | Win | 25–7–1 | Cristina Sanchez | UD | 8 | 2:00 | Mar 12, 2013 | Korakuen Hall | |
| 32 | Win | 24–7–1 | Bas Sor Tammajak | KO | 2 | 1:10 | Oct 28, 2012 | Furukawa Sogo Gym, Osaki, Miyagi | |
| 31 | Win | 23–7–1 | Cynthia Munoz | UD | 6 | 2:00 | Jul 11, 2012 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 30 | Loss | 22–7–1 | Jelena Mrdjenovich | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Sep 22, 2011 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 29 | Win | 22–6–1 | Chika Mizutani | KO | 4 | 1:54 | Apr 4, 2011 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 28 | Win | 21–6–1 | Bronwyn Wylie | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Sep 24, 2010 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 27 | Win | 20–6–1 | Lamduan Superchamps | KO | 3 | 2:09 | Apr 1, 2010 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 26 | Win | 19–6–1 | Pantip Muangubon | KO | 4 | 1:48 | Dec 6, 2009 | ATC Hall, Osaka, Osaka, Japan | |
| 25 | Loss | 18–6–1 | Layla McCarter | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Jul 3, 2009 | South Point Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 24 | Loss | 18–5–1 | Olivia Gerula | SD | 8 | 2:00 | Mar 3, 2009 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 23 | Loss | 18–4–1 | Ann Saccurato | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Aug 11, 2008 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 22 | Win | 18–3–1 | Natalie Brown | MD | 6 | 2:00 | May 9, 2008 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, | |
| 21 | Win | 17–3–1 | Ann Saccurato | MD | 10 | 2:00 | Nov 10, 2007 | Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo | |
| 20 | Loss | 16–3–1 | Jelena Mrdjenovich | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Apr 7, 2007 | Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta | |
| 19 | Win | 16–2–1 | Terri Blair | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Dec 15, 2006 | Tokyo | |
| 18 | Win | 15–2–1 | Yoko Takahashi | KO | 4 | 1:30 | Jun 10, 2006 | Shinjuku FACE | |
| 17 | Win | 14–2–1 | Won-Mi Jung | UD | 10 | 2:00 | May 20, 2006 | Jeongeup, South Korea | |
| 16 | Win | 13–2–1 | Belinda Laracuente | PTS | 8 | 2:00 | Oct 1, 2005 | Roppongi Velfarre, Tokyo | |
| 15 | Loss | 12–2–1 | Chevelle Hallback | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Mar 13, 2005 | Velfarre, Roppongi, Tokyo | |
| 14 | Win | 12–1–1 | Melissa Fiorentino | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Sep 18, 2004 | Kyoto | |
| 13 | Win | 11–1–1 | Shelby Walker | TKO | 2 | 1:59 | May 23, 2004 | Kyoto | |
| 12 | Win | 10–1–1 | Sharon Anyos | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Nov 30, 2003 | Tokyo | |
| 11 | Win | 9–1–1 | Jeri Sitzes | MD | 8 | 2:00 | Jun 25, 2003 | Tokyo | |
| 10 | Win | 8–1–1 | Sharon Anyos | SD | 10 | 2:00 | Dec 18, 2002 | Tokyo | |
| 9 | Win | 7–1–1 | Lauren Bennett | TKO | 2 | 0:27 | Sep 7, 2002 | Tokyo | |
| 8 | Win | 6–1–1 | Mika Harikae | TKO | 3 | Jun 9, 2002 | Tokyo | ||
| 7 | Loss | 5–1–1 | Layla McCarter | MD | 8 | 2:00 | Apr 29, 2002 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 6 | Win | 5–0–1 | Miki Kikukawa | UD | 10 | 2:00 | Feb 3, 2002 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 5 | Win | 4–0–1 | Mika Harikae | TKO | 3 | 1:15 | Jul 20, 2001 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 4 | Win | 3–0–1 | Miki Kikukawa | SD | 6 | 2:00 | Mar 2, 2001 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 3 | Win | 2–0–1 | Ann Jihe | MD | 6 | 2:00 | Dec 12, 2000 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 2 | Draw | 1–0–1 | Kaori Koizumi | MD | 6 | 2:00 | Sep 21, 2000 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Keiko Onuma | TKO | 3 | 1:17 | May 8, 2000 | Shimokita Town Hall, Tokyo | |
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