Hozumi Hasegawa Won a Third Division’s Crown in His Final
Hozumi Hasegawa won the WBC super bantamweight championship against Hugo Ruiz in Osaka on September 16, 2016. Ruiz’s corner stopped the contest after nine rounds, giving the Japanese boxer a world title in a third division.
Bantamweight and featherweight championships
Hasegawa turned professional in 1999 and won the OPBF bantamweight title in 2003. He defeated Thailand’s Veeraphol Sahaprom in 2005 to become WBC bantamweight champion.
Ten successful defenses followed before Fernando Montiel ended his reign in 2010. Hasegawa moved up to featherweight and won another WBC championship before later pursuing the super bantamweight title.
The Ruiz victory and retirement
Against Ruiz at Edion Arena Osaka, Hasegawa fought through difficult exchanges and rallied in the ninth round. The champion’s retirement between rounds secured Hasegawa’s third divisional championship.
He announced his retirement in Kobe on December 9, 2016, leaving the sport as a reigning champion. His final professional record was thirty-six wins and five defeats, including sixteen knockout victories.
His first attempt to win a super bantamweight world title had ended in defeat against Kiko Martínez in 2014. Against Ruiz, Hasegawa again faced serious danger when a right hand hurt him in the ninth. He fought back before the bell despite a cut over his left eye, and Ruiz’s corner declined to send its boxer out for the tenth.
Sources
- Boxing News: Hasegawa’s ninth-round victory over Ruiz
- Boxing News: Hasegawa’s retirement announcement and three-division career
- BoxingScene / Jake Donovan: Hasegawa’s late rally and third divisional title
