April 20, 2007
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Japanese promoter/manager Tetsuro Kawai, 68, who handled ex-WBA flyweight champ Susumu Hanagata, passed away of liver complaint in Yokohama, Japan, on Tuesday. The funeral service was held today (Saturday) in his native city Yokohama, where he followed Kawai Gym established by his father and ex-boxer Kid Tetsu.
Kawai himself was a successful amateur boxer, winning national championships twice in his high school days, and once more while he was a student of Keioh University. Kawai, a fleet-footed speedster, was unbeaten in his first seven outings, defeating ex-world challenger Leo Espinosa, Ray Ortiz, Tadao Kawamura, etc. prior to his first setback to Fighting Harada in March 1963. Kawai once fought to a draw with then world top bantam contender Jose Medel of Mexico in October 1963. He suffered a couple of KO defeats at the hand of elongated US hard-puncher, world rated Ronnie Jones in Manila and in Tokyo. His final appearance was seen in 1966, when he was demolished by world top feather contender Mitsunori Seki in two quick rounds. Then he called it quits.
Though unsuccessful as a professional boxer having compiled only a record of 11-8-4, 1 KO, Kawai showed his excellent management of such good boxers as world champ Hanagata, Orient fly champ Jiro Takada (who lost to Miguel Canto and Guty Espadas Sr.), national titlist Kazuyoshi Kubokura, world-rated Shuzo Yoshida, et al. May his soul rest in peace.
(4-20-07)