Hozumi Hasegawa

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Hozumi Hasegawa
Statistics
Real name Hozumi Hasegawa
Rated at Featherweight
Height 1.685 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[3]
Reach 169.0 cm (6 ft)[3]
Nationality Japan Japanese
Born (1980-12-16) 16 December 1980
Nishiwaki, Hyōgo, Japan
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 36
Wins 32
Wins by KO 14
Losses 4
Draws 0
No contests 0

Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積 Hasegawa Hozumi, born December 16, 1980) is a professional boxer and a former WBC world bantamweight champion and former WBC world Featherweight champion. He received MVP awards from the Japan Boxing Commission in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 for his title defenses,[4] and is the first Japanese boxer to have defended a world bantamweight title over four times.[5]

Boxing career

Born as the second of five children in Nishiwaki, Hyōgo, Hasegawa made his professional debut in 1999. Despite losing two four-round fights by decision early in his career, he defeated Jesse Maca by 12-round decision in 2003 to win the OPBF bantamweight title, which he defended three times before returning the belt on December 20, 2004.

Bantamweight

Hasegawa fought long-time champion Veeraphol Sahaprom on April 16, 2005 at Nippon Budokan. Sahaprom had defended the WBC bantamweight title fifteen times over six years, and had not been defeated for almost a decade. Hasegawa fought effectively, leading the first four rounds, before Sahaprom fought back to win the middle rounds. Sahaprom tired in the later rounds, allowing Hasegawa to become more aggressive, shaking Sahaprom in Round 10. The fight went to a decision, and the judges gave Hasegawa a 3-0 victory, ending Sahaprom's long reign over the bantamweight division.

Hasegawa made his first title defense on September 25, 2005 at Yokohama Arena. Hasegawa was originally scheduled to fight WBC top-ranked contender Diego Morales. However, Morales backed out of the fight due to an injury, and the eighth-ranked contender, Geraldo Martinez, was hastily called up as a substitute. Hasegawa had been sparring with southpaws in preparation to fight Morales, who was a southpaw, but the change to Martinez meant he would now be fighting an orthodox style fighter. Hasegawa took an early lead in the fight, knocking Martinez down twice in the 2nd round (ruled as slips by the referee), and once in the 3rd round. Hasegawa put Martinez down again early in the 7th with a dazzling left straight, and the fight erupted into a massive slugfest between the two fighters. Hasegawa knocked Martinez down two more times in the same round, prompting the referee to stop the fight. Hasegawa marked his first title defense with a TKO victory. This was also the day of his wedding anniversary.

On March 25, 2006, Hasegawa returned to fight in his hometown, Kobe, for the first time after becoming world champion. Hasegawa's opponent for his second title defense was again Veeraphol Sahaprom, who had compiled five consecutive wins to become the top-ranked WBC contender after losing his title to Hasegawa a year ago. It was rumored that Sahaprom had not been in top condition when he lost to Hasegawa, and many speculated that Sahaprom had not fought to the best of his ability in the previous fight. Both fighters started off slowly, but Hasegawa's shots gradually began to land on Sahaprom, and almost knocked out Sahaprom with a powerful left uppercut in the 6th. Sahaprom fought back in the 7th and 8th rounds, landing body shots, but Hasegawa landed a stunning right hook only ten seconds into the 9th round to knock out Sahaprom. Since Hasegawa suffered a left sternal fracture in June 2006, the scheduled defense on July 15 was postponed.[6]

The third title defense took place on November 13, 2006, at Nippon Budokan, where Hasegawa first won the title. The challenger was Mexican fighter Genaro Garcia, ranked 1st in the WBC. Hasegawa knocked Garcia down with a left uppercut in the 4th round, but Garcia showed surprising resilience, landing powerful body shots in the middle rounds. Hasegawa suffered a light cut in the 7th round, which was worsened by a head-butt from Garcia in the 8th. Hasegawa managed to knock down Garcia again in the 8th, though his own face was covered with blood, and his eye was practically sealed shut from the cut. Hasegawa showed able defensive skills to ride out the 12th round, and won with a unanimous 3-0 decision. After the fight, Hasegawa was visited by WBC Super Flyweight Champion Masamori Tokuyama, who gave Hasegawa a hand-written letter challenging him for his bantamweight title. If the fight with Tokuyama had taken place, it would have been a huge match-up between two Japan-based world champions, but Hasegawa declined the offer, wanting to fight non-Japanese challengers instead. Tokuyama retired shortly afterwards.

Hasegawa fought undefeated challenger Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa on May 3, 2007, for the fourth defense of his title. Very little was known about the challenger, Vetyeka, except that he had an undefeated record (16-0-0), and had defended the South African bantamweight title five times, winning four of those fights by knockout. He was also said to have compiled an exceptional career in the amateur ring. The fight itself was rather anticlimactic, as there had been huge excitement about the May 3 card, which featured two other world title matchups. Both Hasegawa and Vetyeka wanted to land counter punches, leading to a great deal of inactivity from both sides. Neither fighter seemed willing to expose themselves, and few hard punches were thrown in the early rounds of the fight. The open scoring system was used in the fight, and Hasegawa was leading in the judges' scorecards going into the later rounds, but Vetyeka continued to lay back and wait for Hasegawa to attack. Hasegawa finally stepped up to decisively win the final two rounds, and won his fourth defense with a unanimous decision. There was some frustration after the fight, because both Hasegawa and Vetyeka complained that one of the advertisements in the middle of the ring was causing their feet to slip. This was the first world title defense where Hasegawa was unable to knock down his opponent in the fight.

Hasegawa (on the right) with his trainer and manager Yamashita, during a visit to earthquake stricken Yamamoto, Miyagi, in May 2011. Their motto is "Where there is a will, there is a way".[1] Hasegawa has sometimes uttered that belief.[2] It is also the name of his autobiography, Ishi dōtaku (意志道拓), written in Japanese.[1]

Hasegawa defended his title for the fifth time on January 10, 2008 with a 12-round unanimous decision victory against top-ranked WBC contender Simone Maludrottu. Hasegawa had transferred to the newly established Shinsei Boxing Gym in Kobe along with its founder and his trainer, Masato Yamashita, during the 8 month layoff since his last defense. Despite suffering a cut above his right eye early in the fight, Hasegawa dominated the fight to win by unanimous decision.[7] This made him the first Japanese boxer to have defended a bantamweight world title over four times.

He defended it again for the sixth time, defeating Venezuela's Cristian Faccio with a 2nd round TKO on June 12, 2008.

Hasegawa fought on October 16, 2008 where he defended his title for the 7th time by taking on Mexican prospect Alejandro Valdez. Hasegawa won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

His 8th title defense was a lot more impressive as he stopped Vusi Malinga in a single round on March 12, 2009.

He defended it again for the 9th time, defeating USA's Nestor Rocha with a 1st round TKO on July 14, 2009.

He defended his title for the tenth time by knocking out Alvaro Perez on December 12, 2009.

Title run comes to an end

On April 30, 2010, Hasegawa challenged WBO 118-pound champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico. Although Montiel holds a title in the same division, it was not on the line because of JBC policy. At the bout, Hasegawa won the first three rounds, frustrating the Mexican visitor. In the fourth round Montiel managed to land an attack on Hasegawa, leaving the hometown fighter vulnerable for more blows. The referee declared an end and this was Hasegawa's first knockout loss. Aside from losing the match and the title, Hasegawa also suffered a shattered jaw.[8] The injury was caused not by Montiel's barrage of attacks in the 4th round but by an impact Hasegawa took in the 1st.[9]

Featherweight

Following the bout with Montiel, Hasegawa went up two weight divisions and fight Juan Carlos Burgos for the vacant WBC featherweight crown on November 26, 2010 and won the WBC Featherweight Championship.[10] [11] Hasegawa was nominated as return of the year for the Best of 2010 awards by WBC,[12] but was granted the most dramatic fight of the year for the match against Fernando Montiel, after all.[13]

After being dethroned by Jhonny González in April 2011, Hasegawa hired a new trainer Frankie Liles in November 2011, in addition to his long-time trainer Yamashita, and has intensely trained with them.[14]

Hasegawa was slated to make his return to the ring against the undefeated Mexican featherweight Carlos Felipe Felix on December 17, 2011. However, a broken right rib that he sustained during training caused the bout to be postponed[15] until April 6, 2012. He stopped the opponent in the seventh round in that comeback appearance.[16]

Super bantamweight

In October 2012, it was announced that Hasegawa would move down a weight division to super bantamweight in his next fight in December.[17] He defeated Arturo Santos Reyes via a unanimous decision in Kobe on December 22, 2012.[18] Hasegawa told that he had needed two years after winning the featherweight title to recapture his early style. He had suffered from lack of motivation to continue fighting during the two years after the death of his dearest mother and the tragedy of the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.[19]

Hasegawa will face Genaro Camargo in a 125 round ten round bout in Tokyo on August 12, 2013.[20]

Professional Record

32 Wins (14 knockouts, 18 decisions), 4 Losses, 0 Draws
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33-4 Mexico Genaro Camargo TKO 1 (12), 2:32 2013-8-12 Japan Tokyo, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32-4 Thailand Veerapol Sor Chantasith KO 3 (10) 2013-4-26 Japan Kobe, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31-4 Mexico Arturo Santos Reyes UD 10 (10) 2012-12-22 Japan Kobe, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30-4 Mexico Felipe Carlos Felix TKO 7 (12), 2:28 2012-4-6 Japan Tokyo, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 29-4 Mexico Jhonny González TKO 4 (12), 0:58 2011-04-08 Japan Kobe, Japan Lost the WBC featherweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-3 Mexico Juan Carlos Burgos UD 12 (12) 2010-11-26 Japan Nagoya, Japan Won vacant WBC featherweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 28-3 Mexico Fernando Montiel TKO 4 (12), 2:59 2010-04-30 Japan Tokyo, Japan Lost WBC bantamweight title.

WBO bantamweight title was on the line for Montiel.

style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-2 Nicaragua Alvaro Perez TKO 4 (12), 2:38 2009-12-18 Japan Kobe, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-2 United States Nestor Rocha TKO 1 (12), 2:28 2009-07-14 Japan Kobe, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-2 South Africa Vusi Malinga TKO 1 (12), 2:37 2009-03-12 Japan Kobe, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-2 Mexico Alejandro Valdez TKO 2 (12), 2:41 2008-10-16 Japan Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24-2 Uruguay Cristian Faccio TKO 2 (12), 2:l8 2008-06-12 Japan Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-2 Italy Simone Maludrottu UD 12 (12) 2008-01-10 Japan Osaka, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22-2 South Africa Simpiwe Vetyeka UD 12 (12) 2007-05-03 Japan Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-2 Mexico Genaro Garcia UD 12 (12) 2006-11-13 Japan Tokyo, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.

Garcia was knocked down in the fourth and sixth rounds.

style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-2 Thailand Veeraphol Sahaprom TKO 9 (12), 0:19 2006-03-25 Japan Kobe, Japan Rematch. Retained WBC bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-2 Mexico Gerardo Martinez TKO 7 (12), 2:18 2005-09-25 Japan Yokohama, Japan Retained WBC bantamweight title.

Martinez was knocked down once in the third round and three times in the seventh round.

style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-2 Thailand Veeraphol Sahaprom UD 12 (12) 2005-04-16 Japan Tokyo, Japan Won WBC bantamweight title.

Hasegawa ends Sahaprom's streak of 15 straight title defenses.
Hasegawa becomes the first person to defeat Sahaprom him since 1996.

style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-2 Japan Jun Toriumi UD 10 (10) 2004-10-30 Japan Tokyo, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-2 Thailand Norasing Kietprasanchai UD 12 (12) 2004-05-23 Japan Kobe, Japan Retained OPBF bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-2 Thailand Dechsayarm Sithpordam UD 10 (10) 2004-02-15 Japan Osaka, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-2 Philippines Alvin Felicilda TKO 10 (12), 1:20 2003-11-09 Japan Kobe, Japan Retained OPBF bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13-2 Japan Sunao Uno SD 12 (12) 2003-07-20 Japan Gifu, Japan Retained OPBF bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-2 Philippines Jess Maca SD 12 (12) 2003-05-18 Japan Kobe, Japan Won OPBF bantamweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-2 Thailand Naphdetsh Soonkilanoynai UD 10 (10) 2003-03-02 Japan Akashi, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-2 Japan Ryuichi Minoriyama UD 10 (10) 2002-10-27 Japan Kobe, Japan Minoriyama was knocked down twice during the fight.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-2 Japan Toshinobu Nakatani UD 10 (10) 2002-08-24 Japan Osaka, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-2 Thailand Pornchai Sithpraprom TKO 6 (10), 0:50 2002-04-21 Japan Kobe, Japan Sithpraprom was knocked down twice in the first round and once in the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-2 Thailand Gamwonwan Sithsobha KO 2 (8), 1:16 2002-02-03 Japan Osaka, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-2 Japan Hisami Kitahara UD 6 (6) 2001-10-21 Japan Kobe, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-2 Japan Takashi Taketazu UD 6 (6) 2001-08-17 Japan Amagasaki, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-2 Japan Yoshihiro Yoshioka KO 1 (4), 2:13 2001-07-07 Japan Osaka, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3-2 Japan Masamitsu Arakawa SD 4 (4) 2001-05-20 Japan Kobe, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-1 Japan Yoshinori Terada UD 4 (4) 2001-01-28 Japan Takasago, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2-1 Japan Takashi Taketazu UD 4 (4) 2000-07-30 Japan Osaka, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0 Japan Hideki Ishizuka TKO 2 (4), 1:59 2000-04-28 Japan Kobe, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0 Japan Shuichi Kuroiwa UD 4 (4) 1999-11-22 Japan Kobe, Japan

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "長谷川穂積V11戦前に自叙伝!　神戸でスパー公開" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. March 16, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
  2. ↑ Hisao Adachi (October 27, 2011). "Hozumi Hasegawa Sets Return, Faces Felix on Dec. 17". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 長谷川、モンティエルともに異常なし WBCバンタム級戦予備検診 ボクシングニュース「Box-on!」 2010年4月27日
  4. ↑ Makoto Maeda (January 26, 2010). "年間3度のKO防衛で長谷川穂積がMVP獲得。〜「技能賞」は西岡利晃に〜" (in Japanese). Number (Bungeishunju). Retrieved May 19, 2013. 
  5. ↑ Hasegawa named Japan boxing MVP for 2nd straight year
  6. ↑ "長谷川骨折、7・15防衛戦延期" (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. June 21, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2012. 
  7. ↑ Hozumi Hasegawa defeats Simone Maludrottu to keep WBC bantamweight title
  8. ↑ Mark Vester (May 1, 2010). "Montiel Broke Hasegawa's Jaw, Surgery is Scheduled". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
  9. ↑ Joe Koizumi (May 2, 2009). "Hasegawa's jaw fractured". Fightnews.com. Retrieved 2010-05-02. 
  10. ↑ Jhonny Gonzalez (September 27, 2010). "Hasegawa vs Burgos, Tajbert vs Aoh Catching Steam". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2010-09-27. 
  11. ↑ "Hasegawa wins WBC featherweight title". Yahoo Sports. November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2010. 
  12. ↑ "WBC Best of 2010 Awards". Fightnews.com. December 25, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011. 
  13. ↑ "WBC Awards: Martinez, Pascal, Pacquiao, Canelo, Klitschko". BoxingScene.com. January 3, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011. 
  14. ↑ Tetsuji Kishi (March 10, 2012). "長谷川、公開スパーで復活星手応え十分" (in Japanese). Daily Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2012. 
  15. ↑ Hisao Adachi (December 12, 2011). "Hasegawa Injures Rib, Withdraws From Felix Bout". boxingscene.com. Retrieved December 28, 2011. 
  16. ↑ Joe Koizumi (April 6, 2012). "Ex-WBC champ Hasegawa returns". Fightnews.com. Retrieved April 9, 2012. 
  17. ↑ "長谷川穂積、次戦は12月22日…スーパーバンタム級" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012. 
  18. ↑ Jake Donovan (December 22, 2012). "Tunacao Flattens Esquivel In Seven; Hasegawa Tops Santos". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved January 6, 2013. 
  19. ↑ Mitsuhiro Mizuno (December 20, 2012). "スーパーバンタムで復活ののろし。長谷川穂積「俺がボクシングを続けるワケ」" (in Japanese). Sportiva (Shueisha). p. 1. Retrieved January 6, 2013. 
  20. ↑ "長谷川穂積の対戦相手はメキシコ王者" (in Japanese). Daily Sports. July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013. 

External links

Preceded by
Veeraphol Sahaprom		 WBC Bantamweight Champion
April 16, 2005 – April 30, 2010 		Succeeded by
Fernando Montiel
Vacant
Title last held by
Elio Rojas		 WBC Featherweight Champion
November 26, 2010 – April 8, 2011 		Succeeded by
Jhonny González
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