Two-time K-1 World MAX Champion Masato (53-6-2) and Fighting and Entertainment Group Event Producer Sadaharu Tanigawa held a press conference on Wednesday to announce the Japanese kickboxer's pending retirement. Masato has stoked retirement rumors for years, but there now appears to be a set gameplan: he will fight on July 13th at the Tokyo Budokan where he won his first title (possibly against Tatsuya Kawajiri), then face this year's K-1 MAX champion on New Years Eve in his final fight, a bout which he hopes will be at least 5 and up to 7 rounds. Before that, he will square off against K-1 Koshien (Under 18) fighter Hiroya (12-2) in a 3-minute exhibition bout at April's K-1 World MAX show.