January 16, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
It is very astounding that formerly two-time world champ Hozumi Hasegawa (33-5, 15 KOs), a Japanese southpaw veteran, announce on Wednesday that he would go on fighting to look for another belt in the featherweight category. People here believed that Hasegawa, now 34, was completely thorough after his unsuccessful crack at WBA 122-pound champ Kiko Martinez via seventh round TKO in April of the previous year. Hasegawa hasn’t fought since then so our fight fans thought he would hang up gloves for good after his Marinez TKO defeat.
Reviewing his career, he has made some mistakes as follows: (1) Hasegawa, after his ten successful defenses of the WBC bantam belt, underestimated WBO ruler in the same category Francisco Montiel and suffered an abrupt fourth-round TKO defeat in April 2010. (2) It was also his fault that he mistakenly decided to move up to the feather division (126-pounds) and acquired the vacant WBC feather belt by decisioning Juan Burgos in November 2011. Hasegawa, without making an even single defense, forfeited the WBC 126-pound belt to Jhonny Gonzalez’s single right hook in just four rounds in April 2011.
Since then, Hasegawa engaged in five bouts only to win four tune-but pouts but lost to Kiko Martinez via seventh round TKO for the IBF world 122-pund throne last April. He was then already a legitimate 126-pound campainger, who attempted to make an successsful try to win his third belt in the 122-pound category but losr it to Kiko Martinez. Dream (threr-class coronation) was just a dream.
Hasegawa, who will campaign in the feather category from now on, may fight a world rated feather contender in this coming April or May, and then look for a world featherweight belt. Hasegawa, who had registered ten defenses of his WBC bantam diadem, said, “I wish to fight one with all my heart and spirit. I will devote all myself to boxing. Whenever there may be a chance for my third coronation, I will do my very best to try to will it.”
Why didn’t you stop Hasegawa making his return to the squared circle? He may be a hard road warrior, but if it is true that he will go on fighting and campaigning, we would like to support his comeback road.” Anyway, it is shocking that the 34-year-old Hasegawa, who had passed his weak, will have out stinging.
Very best wishes.
Joe