Hozumi Hasegawa
| Hozumi Hasegawa | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at | |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Reach | 171 cm (67 in) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born |
16 December 1980 Nishiwaki, Hyōgo, Japan |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 41 |
| Wins | 36 |
| Wins by KO | 16 |
| Losses | 5 |
Hozumi Hasegawa (長谷川 穂積 Hasegawa Hozumi?, born 16 December 1980) is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2016. He is the fourth Japanese boxer to win world titles in three weight classes, having held the WBC bantamweight title from 2005 to 2010; the WBC featherweight title from 2010 to 2011; and the WBC super bantamweight title in 2016. Hasegawa received MVP awards from the Japan Boxing Commission in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009 for his title defenses, and is the first Japanese boxer to have defended a bantamweight world title more four times.
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.
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.
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