Hiroshi Kawashima
Encyclopedia
Hiroshi Kawashima is a former professional boxer. He defended the WBC
super flyweight
title six times.
flyweight title.
Kawashima won the national high school boxing tournament in his senior year, defeating future world champion Katsuya Onizuka
in the semi-finals. He moved to Tokyo
after graduating from high school, and made his professional debut in August, 1988.
title in July, 1992, which he defended three times before vacating.
On May 4, 1994, Kawashima challenged WBC
super flyweight
champion Jose Luis Bueno
, and won by 12 round unanimous decision to become the new world champion. He defeated future IBF
champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar
in his first defense, and went on to defend his title a total six times.
On February 20, 1997, he faced Gerry Penalosa
for his seventh defense, and lost by 12 round split decision. He was forced into retirement after this fight when it was revealed he had suffered a torn retina. His record was 20-3-1 (14KOs).
Kawashima was overshadowed by the popularity of other Japanese fighters such as Katsuya Onizuka
and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
, but conquered his weaknesses to put together a solid professional career.
.
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
super flyweight
Super flyweight
Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
title six times.
Childhood and Early Career
Kawashima began boxing from an early age under the guidance of his father. His older brother, Shinobu Kawashima, also became a professional boxer, and would later challenge the IBFInternational Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
flyweight title.
Kawashima won the national high school boxing tournament in his senior year, defeating future world champion Katsuya Onizuka
Katsuya Onizuka
is a former WBA Super Flyweight champion from Kitakyushu, Japan. Onizuka was an extremely popular boxer in Japan, creating a boxing boom in Japan during the early 1990s along with Joichiro Tatsuyoshi.-Biography:...
in the semi-finals. He moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
after graduating from high school, and made his professional debut in August, 1988.
Professional career
Kawashima did not make an ideal start to his career, recording two knockout losses in his first six professional fights. These losses convinced him to improve his defensive skills to cover up for his weak chin, and he became one of the most elusive Japanese boxers ever. He broke his left hand In January, 1991, which put him into inactivity for over a year, but he won the Japanese super flyweightSuper flyweight
Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
title in July, 1992, which he defended three times before vacating.
On May 4, 1994, Kawashima challenged WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
super flyweight
Super flyweight
Super flyweight is a weight division in professional boxing. It is alternatively referred to as junior bantamweight and light bantamweight...
champion Jose Luis Bueno
Jose Luis Bueno
José Luis Bueno , is a retired Mexican professional boxer and former WBC Super Flyweight Champion. Bueno is also the trainer of current WBC Light Flyweight Champion, Adrián Hernández....
, and won by 12 round unanimous decision to become the new world champion. He defeated future IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
champion Carlos Gabriel Salazar
Carlos Salazar (boxer)
Carlos Gabriel Salazar is a retired boxer from Argentina, who competed in the light flyweight division . He represented his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There he was stopped in the first round by Puerto Rico's Rafael Ramos.-References:* -External links:...
in his first defense, and went on to defend his title a total six times.
On February 20, 1997, he faced Gerry Penalosa
Gerry Peñalosa
Geronimo Peñalosa , more commonly known as Gerry Peñalosa, is a retired Filipino professional boxer....
for his seventh defense, and lost by 12 round split decision. He was forced into retirement after this fight when it was revealed he had suffered a torn retina. His record was 20-3-1 (14KOs).
Kawashima was overshadowed by the popularity of other Japanese fighters such as Katsuya Onizuka
Katsuya Onizuka
is a former WBA Super Flyweight champion from Kitakyushu, Japan. Onizuka was an extremely popular boxer in Japan, creating a boxing boom in Japan during the early 1990s along with Joichiro Tatsuyoshi.-Biography:...
and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
is a former World Boxing Council world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 19–6–1 .He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows....
, but conquered his weaknesses to put together a solid professional career.
Post Retirement
He has frequently appeared as a boxing commentator, after retiring, and in 2005, he founded his own boxing gym in Ōta, TokyoOta, Tokyo
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the ward has an estimated population of 676,458, with 348,492 households, and a population density of 11,376.69 persons per km²...
.