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Jiro Watanabe

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Jiro Watanabe
Born
渡辺二郎

(1955-03-16) 16 March 1955 (age 69)
Okayama,[1] Japan
NationalityJapanese
Statistics
Weight(s)Super flyweight
Height5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins26
Wins by KO17
Losses2
Draws0
No contests0

Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō, born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer.[2][3] Watanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.

Biography

With a background in Shotokan Karate, he started his professional boxing career with a three-round knockout over Keiza Miyazaki. The fight was in Okayama, Watanabe's birthplace. Two first-round knockout wins followed, one over Yukihiro Kawahira, and another over Noburu Iishi. There was an immediate rematch with Iishi, and, although the second time around Iishi gave him a tougher test, nevertheless, Watanabe still came out a winner, by a knockout in six.

Three more knockouts followed, two in the first round, including one over Koji Kobayashi, future WBC world Flyweight champion and brother of former world champion Royal Kobayashi. Then, Watanabe was taken the distance for the first time, against Jin-Hyun Chun in Nagoya, Watanabe winning a six-round decision.

After two more decision wins, Watanabe flew to South Korea, where he challenged the WBC world Jr. Bantamweight champion Chul-Ho Kim, losing in his first world title bid by a 15-round decision. Watanabe then returned to Japan and won his remaining four bouts for 1981 there, three by knockout. One of the fighters he beat was Tito Abella, who by then had been ranked as the number one Jr. Bantamweight challenger in the world. Abella was knocked out in four rounds.

In April 1982, the WBA Jr. Bantamweight champion of the world, Rafael Pedroza of Panama, the cousin of Eusebio Pedroza, travelled to Osaka to defend his belt against Watanabe on 8 April. Watanabe won a unanimous 15-round decision and became world champion. Watanabe's remaining fights of 1982 were title defenses against former world champions, Gustavo Ballas of Argentina, knocked out in nine rounds, and Shoji Oguma (former two time world Flyweight champion), beaten by a knockout in 12.

1983 was another busy year for the champion: He beat Luis Ibañez by a knockout in eight, Roberto Ramirez of Mexico by a decision in 15, and Soon-Chun Kwon by a technical decision in 11. Watanabe had built a considerable points lead over Kwon, but in round ten, their heads collided, causing a gap in Watanabe's head. He bled profusely, and the fight doctor ordered the fight to be stopped in round eleven, but since it was ruled that the cut was the product of a headbutt, the fight then went to the scorecards, and Watanabe was declared the winner.

In 1984, Watanabe disposed of another Venezuelan challenger, Celso Chavez, by knocking him out in 15 rounds. Then, he and WBC world champion Payao Poontarat met in an attempt to unify the world's Jr. Bantamweight title, and Watanabe finally earned the WBC's belt, winning by a 12-round decision. Although Watanabe didn't become undisputed as he was stripped of the WBA title for refusing to defend his title against his number 1 contender, Khaosai Galaxy. Watanabe also became the first lineal champion in the division.[4] There was an immediate rematch, and Watanabe again imposed his will, with an 11-round knockout over the former world champ.

In 1985, he retained the title with a 12-round decision over Julio Soto Solano. Wins over Katsuo Katsuma (KO 7) and Suk-Hwan Yun (KO 5) followed, but in 1986, he defended against the late Gilberto Roman in what would turn out to be his last fight. He lost to Roman by a 12-round decision and announced his retirement from professional boxing. Unlike so many others, he was able to stay away from the temptation of coming back and trying to regain his old popularity.

Watanabe's successor for the WBA title would be Galaxy. Galaxy would win the vacant title against Eusebio Espinal and also go on to become a Jr. Bantamweight and reel off 19 straight title defenses before retiring.

In 1999, Watanabe was spotted at a Seoul activity honoring Asia's greatest boxing champions, alongside Fighting Harada, Jung-Koo Chang, Yoko Gushiken, Sot Chitalada, and former rivals Chul-Ho Kim and Poontarat, among others.

In August 1995, he was arrested for blackmail. He ran an import business in Osaka, and threatened the debtors by saying that he would beat them to death. Police suspended judgment on the matter, so he was released.

In October 1999, he was arrested for giving a gun to a friend who was prosecuted for murder. In July 2000, he was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment.

After being released in 2004, he was arrested for blackmail along with Kenji Haga, ex-actor, and a yakuza of Yamaguchigumi, on 30 June 2007. He has denied the suspicion, but Japan Boxing Commission banished him on 27 July 2007.

Professional boxing record

28 fights 26 wins 2 losses
By knockout 17 0
By decision 9 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Loss 26–2 Gilberto Román UD 12 Mar 30,

1986

Sports Centre, Itami Japan Lost WBC super-flyweight title
27 Win 26–1 Suk Hwan Yun TKO 5 (12), 2:34 Dec 13,

1985

Municipal Stadium, Daegu South Korea Retained WBC super-flyweight title
26 Win 25–1 Kazou Katsuma TKO 12 (12), 1:26 Sep 17,

1985

Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka Japan Retained WBC super-flyweight title
25 Win 24–1 Julio Soto Solano UD 12 May 9,

1985

Korakuen Hall Japan Retained WBC super-flyweight title
24 Win 23–1 Payao Poontarat TKO 11 (12) 1:54 May 9,

1985

Prefectural Gymnasium, Kumamoto Japan Retained WBC super-flyweight title
23 Win 22–1 Payao Poontarat SD 12 Nov 29,

1984

Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka Japan Won WBC super-flyweight title
22 Win 21–1 Celso Chavez TKO 15 (15) Jul 5,

1984

Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
21 Win 20–1 Soon Chun Kwon TD 11 (12), 3:00 Oct 6,

1983

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
20 Win 19–1 Roberto Ramirez MD 15 Jun 23,

1983

Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
19 Win 18–1 Luis Ibanez KO 8 (15), 1:22 Feb 14,

1983

Municipal Gym, Tsu Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
18 Win 17–1 Shoji Oguma TKO 12 (15) Nov 11,

1982

City Gymnasium, Hamamatsu Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
17 Win 16–1 Gustavo Ballas RTD 9 (15), 3:00 Jul 29,

1982

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan Retained WBA super-flyweight title
16 Win 15–1 Rafael Pedroza UD 15 Apr 8,

1982

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan Won WBA super-flyweight title
15 Win 14–1 Tito Abella KO 4 (10), 1:46 Nov 25,

1981

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan
14 Win 13–1 Ali Baba Lukklongyan KO 5 (10), 2:25 Oct 10,

1981

Korakuen Hall Japan
13 Win 12–1 Kwang Suk Lee UD 10 Aug 9,

1981

Korakuen Hall Japan
12 Win 11–1 Berlin Olivetti KO 2 (10), 2:22 Jun 29,

1981

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan
11 Loss 10–1 Chul Ho Kim UD 15 Apr 22,

1981

Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul South Korea For WBC super-flyweight title
10 Win 10–0 Phaktai Lipovitan PTS 10 Dec 15,

1980

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan
9 Win 9–0 Chakhtep Chuwatana PTS 10 Sep 2,

1980

Korakuen Hall Japan
8 Win 8–0 Jin Hyun Chan PTS 6 Jun 14,

1980

Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya Japan
7 Win 7–0 Koji Kobayashi KO 1 (6), 2:15 Feb 21,

1980

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan
6 Win 6–0 Yoshihiko Kawahira KO 4 (6), 1:47 Jan 19,

1980

City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi Japan
5 Win 5–0 Shinji Takagi KO 1 (6), 1:46 Dec 1,

1979

Budokan, Okayama City Japan
4 Win 4–0 Noboru Ishii KO 6 (6), 2:16 Nov 1,

1979

Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka Japan
3 Win 3–0 Noboru Ishii KO 1 (4), 1:25 Jul 28,

1979

Sakuranomiya Skating Rink, Osaka Japan
2 Win 2–0 Yoshihiko Kawahira KO 1 (4), 2:35 May 19,

1979

Suzuyo Gym, Shimizu Japan
1 Win 1–0 Kiezo Miyazaki KO 3 (4), 2:50 Mar 27,

1979

Budokan, Okayama City Japan

See also

References

  1. ^ 紳助引退事件のキーマン・渡辺二郎の大阪ケンカ最強伝説 メンズサイゾー
  2. ^ "Watanabe Wins on Split Decision". New York Times. UPI. 24 June 1983. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Promoter sues". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. 1 July 1984. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Jiro Watanabe – Lineal Junior Bantamweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA super-flyweight champion
8 April 1982 – 5 July 1984
Stripped 		Vacant
Title next held by
Khaosai Galaxy
Preceded by WBC super-flyweight champion
5 July 1984 – 30 March 1986 		Succeeded by

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