BoxRec

Three-division belt winner Hozumi Hasegawa announced his retirement on Friday, bringing his decorated 17-year boxing career to an end with a 36-5 record, including 16 knockouts.

The fleet-footed 35-year-old retires as WBC super bantamweight champion after he defeated Mexican Hugo Ruiz by technical knockout in September, becoming the fourth Japanese boxer to sweep three weight classes. Hasegawa’s three titles came over a span of five-and-a-half years.

“I’ve decided to retire with the Sept. 16 bout being my last, when I conquered my third division,” Hasegawa told a news conference. “It was a boxing career that had more (success) than I expected.

“I’ve always imagined hanging up my gloves as the world champion. It’s like with eating, you have to stop when you are not quite full.”

Good move, and a great champion.

Hozumi Hasegawa never participated in a stinker (that I saw). He had a very fan friendly style while still displaying fine boxing skills. Congratulations, Champ, for retiring the way you managed your long career; on your own terms, with nothing but class.

entertaining fighter, his break-out performance against Veeraphol was a clinic and punch-fest to savour, and he was in several more excellent fights. i think his performance when undersized against Burgos at 126lbs may have been his best.

He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

Considering the content of the HOF, he deserves to join them.

Best of luck to him in retirement, definitely a fan of this guy

Good move. I thought Ruiz was going to stop him, but he turned back the clock for that one.

Nice to see a champ go out on a triumphant note.

Smart move. Hasegawa's best days are behind him, and that last win over Ruiz is one of those "It'll never get this sweet again" type moments that some Champions have before it all goes south. He picked the perfect stopping point for his career, and leaves the sport in triumph. Best of luck to him in retirement.

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

IMO, no, and somewhat clearly not in. 13 title wins. Maybe a year where he barely cracked some people's top 10 p4p lists. Basically no ppv numbers. A fighter from the recent era who makes the hall of fame will usually satisfy multiple of the following criteria...
-15+ world title wins
-400k+ ppv buys in a single show
-1 million+ ppv buys lifetime
-$80 million+ lifetime earnings
-Top 5 p4p for at least one year
-Top 10 p4p for at least 2-3 years
-Featured in a movie.

Consider how many of the following recent modern fighters don't fulfill at least one or two of these criteria. Not very many. Barrera, Bowe, Calzaghe, Camacho, JCC, DLH, Gatti, Hamed, Virgil Hill, Norris, Holyfield, McCallum, Finito, Lennox Lewis, Qawi, Spinks, Tapia, Trinidad, Tszyu, Tyson, Whitaker.

If they induct 25ish guys from the past 10ish-year era, I figure it's going to be: Mayweather, Pacquiao, Calzaghe, Marquez, Hopkins, RJJ, Toney, Cotto, Hatton, Mosley, Barrera, Ward, Bradley, Martinez, Wlad, Vitali, Gonzalez, Golovkin, Alvarez, Calderon?, Winky Wright?, Donaire?, Froch?, Morales?. Still lots more fighters that probably won't make it in, but might be better choices than Hasegawa due to peak rating, longevity, or fame; like Abner Mares, Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez, Yuri Gamboa, Marco Huck, David Haye, Chad Dawson, Felix Sturm, Castillo, Corrales.

As others have mentioned- Hasegawa was always a slick but yet still exciting boxer to watch. Glad to see he's gone out like that. I wish him a happy retirement.

He beat a great fighter Veeraphol in a great fight, finished off some challengers early in style, rebounded from KO defeats to world class Mexicans (his Achilles heel, unlike Nishioka) to beat Burgos and Ruiz in pretty exciting fashion and qualifies as an essential lighter weight fighter to watch and a legitimate Japanese star. Also enjoyed the Kiko Martinez fight where for some crazy but very exciting reason he stood in front exchanging with the stronger slugger and paid for it. Hard earned success and retirement. He's not a legend, but he's a successful and exciting fighter and I kind of wish he'd continue fighting, especially a Ruiz rematch. Probably didn't spend enough time at 122 which I suspect was his natural weight during his prime, but nonetheless has considerable achievements.

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

Who were the other four?

Cutman Scabbers wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

Who were the other four?

Ioka and Yaegashi would be two of them I think.

Counter-puncher wrote:

Cutman Scabbers wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

Who were the other four?

Ioka and Yaegashi would be two of them I think.

And
Koki Kameda
Naoka Fujioka

Lackeos wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:He was the 5th Japanese boxer to become a 3 weight champion! Bloody writers now a days...
Anyway...HOF worthy? Or just misses out?

IMO, no, and somewhat clearly not in. 13 title wins. Maybe a year where he barely cracked some people's top 10 p4p lists. Basically no ppv numbers. A fighter from the recent era who makes the hall of fame will usually satisfy multiple of the following criteria...
-15+ world title wins
-400k+ ppv buys in a single show
-1 million+ ppv buys lifetime
-$80 million+ lifetime earnings
-Top 5 p4p for at least one year
-Top 10 p4p for at least 2-3 years
-Featured in a movie.

Consider how many of the following recent modern fighters don't fulfill at least one or two of these criteria. Not very many. Barrera, Bowe, Calzaghe, Camacho, JCC, DLH, Gatti, Hamed, Virgil Hill, Norris, Holyfield, McCallum, Finito, Lennox Lewis, Qawi, Spinks, Tapia, Trinidad, Tszyu, Tyson, Whitaker.

If they induct 25ish guys from the past 10ish-year era, I figure it's going to be: Mayweather, Pacquiao, Calzaghe, Marquez, Hopkins, RJJ, Toney, Cotto, Hatton, Mosley, Barrera, Ward, Bradley, Martinez, Wlad, Vitali, Gonzalez, Golovkin, Alvarez, Calderon?, Winky Wright?, Donaire?, Froch?, Morales?. Still lots more fighters that probably won't make it in, but might be better choices than Hasegawa due to peak rating, longevity, or fame; like Abner Mares, Israel Vazquez, Rafael Marquez, Yuri Gamboa, Marco Huck, David Haye, Chad Dawson, Felix Sturm, Castillo, Corrales.

Ppv to decide hall of fame? Jesus christ if that's a criteria the HoF might as well be an Alien concept to those out side of the US and UK. On the flip side several of his fights broke the 10,000,000 tv viewer mark (in athe country where ppv isn't done barring a very very new set up),

I wouldn't argue with him missing out but using PPV and "featured in a movie" (Hi Bellew, Shiming, Samart, Rijker) as qualifiers are hilarious.

Should Veeraphol Sahaprom be in the HOF?

The guy was outstanding, the most rounded bantamweight I've seen in many years; he had a classic four fight rivalry with future champ Nishioka (who went on to beat both Jhonny Gonzalez and Rafael Marquez) - basically Asia's equivalent to Marquez-Vazquez series - destroyed world class sluggers tatsuyoshi (twice) and Barajas, put on a masterclass against good Mexican Adan Vargas and went out in style in the first fight with Hasegawa(now a three weight champ). Many unwatchable poor home defended but this is boxing, not much money in the lighter weights and during this same time Rafael Marquez - whom I admire deeply, how good to have two superb bantams at the same time - earned his reputation as the best puncher, p4p in the world against challengers that had been bribed into the IBF rankings and had an underwhelming, manufactured rivalry with Silence Mabuza...(Marquez would find his dance partner up at 122 obviously).

And to have sustained success in two martial arts, in this case Muay Thai - at the highest level, in three weights- and boxing - winning a pro world title after about 3 fights, then in his mature reign defending 13times- both, that really is incredible. Given how overboard people have gone regarding Holly Holm, based on a single, albeit spectacular, MMA win.

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:

Cutman Scabbers wrote:

Who were the other four?

Ioka and Yaegashi would be two of them I think.

And
Koki Kameda
Naoka Fujioka

Wasn't Kameda only a regular WBA champion at his third weight?

Autobarn wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:
Ioka and Yaegashi would be two of them I think.

And
Koki Kameda
Naoka Fujioka

Wasn't Kameda only a regular WBA champion at his third weight?

Whilst true the JBC recognise him as the first, his bout with Kono was him attempting to become the first Japanese 4 weight champion

Autobarn wrote:

Boxing Prospect wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:
Ioka and Yaegashi would be two of them I think.

And
Koki Kameda
Naoka Fujioka

Wasn't Kameda only a regular WBA champion at his third weight?

Yeah Moreno was the actual WBA champ at the time

Autobarn wrote:The guy was outstanding, the most rounded bantamweight I've seen in many years; he had a classic four fight rivalry with future champ Nishioka (who went on to beat both Jhonny Gonzalez and Rafael Marquez) - basically Asia's equivalent to Marquez-Vazquez series - destroyed world class sluggers tatsuyoshi (twice) and Barajas, put on a masterclass against good Mexican Adan Vargas and went out in style in the first fight with Hasegawa(now a three weight champ). Many unwatchable poor home defended but this is boxing, not much money in the lighter weights and during this same time Rafael Marquez - whom I admire deeply, how good to have two superb bantams at the same time - earned his reputation as the best puncher, p4p in the world against challengers that had been bribed into the IBF rankings and had an underwhelming, manufactured rivalry with Silence Mabuza...(Marquez would find his dance partner up at 122 obviously).

And to have sustained success in two martial arts, in this case Muay Thai - at the highest level, in three weights- and boxing - winning a pro world title after about 3 fights, then in his mature reign defending 13times- both, that really is incredible. Given how overboard people have gone regarding Holly Holm, based on a single, albeit spectacular, MMA win.

'world class slugger' is overselling tatsuyoshi somewhat, mate. he didn't have the power or skill to fight the way he did (coincidentally i watched those fights last night, where Tatsuyoshi should have maybe learned in the first one, that wombling around the ring with low-ish hands, and at-best mediocre movement and elusiveness, against a superior ring technician and much superior puncher In Veeraphol, was a terrible idea). in my view tatsuyoshi's 'charisma' for want of a better word, outside the ring and in (occasionally slipping a punch and throwing some bruce lee style 'you can't hit me' bravado) was more responsible for his getting multiple title shots, than his ability. though his fighting heart couldn't be questioned, and as with Nashiro, the Japanese promoters will alway find multiple shots for a crowd-pleaser who gives 'good value'. anyways....

Boxing Prospect wrote:I wouldn't argue with him missing out but using PPV and "featured in a movie" (Hi Bellew, Shiming, Samart, Rijker) as qualifiers are hilarious.

I'm talking about being featured as a main character in a highly grossing movie, like Ali has been many times; or featured as an actor in a highly grossing movie, which we have seen with RJJ, Toney, Pacquiao, Tyson, etc.. Of course, we have seen Wlad and Lennox appear in Ocean's Eleven as themselves. Appearing in films and worldwide commercials can be a determinant of "fame," which the hall of fame is fairly contingent upon. I had a friend who didn't follow pro wrestling, but knew who Randy Savage was, because Slim Jim commercials; and it can't be said that Slim Jim commercials were not at all a factor in contributing to Randy Savage's fame. It's not as though you aren't offering some reasonable counterexamples, but Tony Bellew appearing in Creed and Rijker in Million Dollar Baby didn't necessarily increase the renown of their names among people who hadn't heard their names before. Obviously this proposed criteria isn't an exact science either, but in cases where acting spots correlate with elevated fame, it can help their chances of reaching the hall of fame.

Counter-puncher wrote:

Autobarn wrote:The guy was outstanding, the most rounded bantamweight I've seen in many years; he had a classic four fight rivalry with future champ Nishioka (who went on to beat both Jhonny Gonzalez and Rafael Marquez) - basically Asia's equivalent to Marquez-Vazquez series - destroyed world class sluggers tatsuyoshi (twice) and Barajas, put on a masterclass against good Mexican Adan Vargas and went out in style in the first fight with Hasegawa(now a three weight champ). Many unwatchable poor home defended but this is boxing, not much money in the lighter weights and during this same time Rafael Marquez - whom I admire deeply, how good to have two superb bantams at the same time - earned his reputation as the best puncher, p4p in the world against challengers that had been bribed into the IBF rankings and had an underwhelming, manufactured rivalry with Silence Mabuza...(Marquez would find his dance partner up at 122 obviously).

And to have sustained success in two martial arts, in this case Muay Thai - at the highest level, in three weights- and boxing - winning a pro world title after about 3 fights, then in his mature reign defending 13times- both, that really is incredible. Given how overboard people have gone regarding Holly Holm, based on a single, albeit spectacular, MMA win.

'world class slugger' is overselling tatsuyoshi somewhat, mate. he didn't have the power or skill to fight the way he did (coincidentally i watched those fights last night, where Tatsuyoshi should have maybe learned in the first one, that wombling around the ring with low-ish hands, and at-best mediocre movement and elusiveness, against a superior ring technician and much superior puncher In Veeraphol, was a terrible idea). in my view tatsuyoshi's 'charisma' for want of a better word, outside the ring and in (occasionally slipping a punch and throwing some bruce lee style 'you can't hit me' bravado) was more responsible for his getting multiple title shots, than his ability. though his fighting heart couldn't be questioned, and as with Nashiro, the Japanese promoters will alway find multiple shots for a crowd-pleaser who gives 'good value'. anyways....

You have to watch Tatsuyoshi's earlier fights to appreciate how amazing he was. He had slipped way down by the time he fought Veeraphol, and he underestimated him, which was his undoing. He had deteriorated so much by the time he fought Sirimongkol nobody gave him a chance -- yet what an inspired win! I wouldn't refer to him as a "world class slugger" either, but he was world class.

How much earlier? A few years before Veeraphol he was getting his face punched in by Zaragoza and yakushiji. Other than Richardson and the truncated fight with Ayala I'm struggling to think of a world.class.opponent who didn't punch his face in. He was world class, sure, belonged at that level but I wouldn't say he was an amazing fighter.