Koichi Wajima
Encyclopedia
Koichi Wajima was a professional boxer
in the super welterweight (154 lb
) division. He is a former WBC
and WBA
champion.
) which became Soviet
territory when Wajima was three years old. He and his family moved to Shibetsu, Hokkaidō
, but barely managed to scrape out a living there. Wajima was put up for adoption, and lived with his stepfamily while his parents worked in Shibetsu
.
Wajima began to work as a fisherman with his stepfamily. He was still in middle school, but had to work from sunset all the way to daybreak. The only time he had to sleep was during class. He was a fighter from a young age, having to work tirelessly each day, and often picking fights with other kids.
After graduating from middle school, he traveled to Tokyo
, where he worked briefly as a truck driver before joining the Misako Boxing Gym. He made his professional debut in March, 1968, at the age of 25.
for the world super welterweight title on October 31, 1971 in Tokyo
. He won by 15-round split decision to capture his first world title. He made his first defense in May, 1972, taking less than 2 minutes to knock out his opponent. He would defend the title a total of 6 times. He quickly became one of the most popular boxers in Japan for his peculiar "Frog Jump" uppercut punch.
He lost his 7th defense to Oscar Albarado
in 1974 by KO in the 15th round. He got a rematch with Albarado 7 months later, on January 21, 1975, and managed to avenge his loss with a 15-round decision win to regain the WBC
and WBA
titles. He was stripped of the WBC
title in March, and lost to Jae-Doo Yuh
to lose his WBA
super welterweight title as well. However, he regained his WBA
title in February, 1976, with a 15th round KO over Yuh.
Wajima lost to Jose Manuel Duran
in his first defense, losing the world title for the third time in his career. He fought his final match In June, 1977, challenging Eddie Gazo
for the WBA
super welterweight title, but lost by 11th round KO. This was the last fight of his career. His record was 31-6-1 (25KOs).
. His brother-in-law also runs a successful dumpling store in Kokubunji, Tokyo
. He also claims that condemned prisoner Iwao Hakamada
is innocent.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in the super welterweight (154 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) division. He is a former 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...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
champion.
Childhood and Early Career
Wajima was born in Karafuto, (current SakhalinSakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
) which became Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
territory when Wajima was three years old. He and his family moved to Shibetsu, Hokkaidō
Shibetsu, Hokkaido
is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 22,859 and the density of 20.4 persons per km²...
, but barely managed to scrape out a living there. Wajima was put up for adoption, and lived with his stepfamily while his parents worked in Shibetsu
Shibetsu, Hokkaido
is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 22,859 and the density of 20.4 persons per km²...
.
Wajima began to work as a fisherman with his stepfamily. He was still in middle school, but had to work from sunset all the way to daybreak. The only time he had to sleep was during class. He was a fighter from a young age, having to work tirelessly each day, and often picking fights with other kids.
After graduating from middle school, he traveled 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...
, where he worked briefly as a truck driver before joining the Misako Boxing Gym. He made his professional debut in March, 1968, at the age of 25.
Professional career
Wajima captured the Japanese super welterweight title in September, 1969. He defended the title 9 times before returning it. He got his first shot at the world title against Carmelo BossiCarmelo Bossi
Carmelo Bossi was an Italian boxer who held the European welterweight and world junior middleweight titles. Bossi boxed from 1961 to 1971 and his final overall record was 40 wins , 8 defeats and 3 draws.- Amateur career :...
for the world super welterweight title on October 31, 1971 in 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...
. He won by 15-round split decision to capture his first world title. He made his first defense in May, 1972, taking less than 2 minutes to knock out his opponent. He would defend the title a total of 6 times. He quickly became one of the most popular boxers in Japan for his peculiar "Frog Jump" uppercut punch.
He lost his 7th defense to Oscar Albarado
Oscar Albarado
Oscar Albarado was an American boxer. He competed in the light middleweight division.- Professional career :...
in 1974 by KO in the 15th round. He got a rematch with Albarado 7 months later, on January 21, 1975, and managed to avenge his loss with a 15-round decision win to regain the 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...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
titles. He was stripped of the 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...
title in March, and lost to Jae-Doo Yuh
Jae-Doo Yuh
Jae-Doo Yuh is a former boxer from South Korea.-Pro career:In 1971, Yuh won the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation middleweight title....
to lose his WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
super welterweight title as well. However, he regained his WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
title in February, 1976, with a 15th round KO over Yuh.
Wajima lost to Jose Manuel Duran
Jose Manuel Duran
Jose Manuel Duran is a former Spanish professional boxer. During his eleven year professional career Duran held the WBA World Light Middleweight title, in addition to this he also challenged for the WBC version of the title and held the EBU title.-Professional career:Duran made his professional...
in his first defense, losing the world title for the third time in his career. He fought his final match In June, 1977, challenging Eddie Gazo
Eddie Gazo
Eddie Gazo is a former professional boxer in the super welterweight division.-Pro career:...
for the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
super welterweight title, but lost by 11th round KO. This was the last fight of his career. His record was 31-6-1 (25KOs).
Post Retirement
Like many other Japanese boxers, Wajima became a successful television personality after retiring, and has appeared on game shows and television dramas. He became the head of the Eastern Japan Boxing Council, and has founded his own boxing gym in TokyoTokyo
, ; 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...
. His brother-in-law also runs a successful dumpling store in Kokubunji, Tokyo
Kokubunji, Tokyo
is a city in Tokyo, Japan.As of 1 June 2008, the city has an estimated population of 117,335 . The total area is 11.48 km²...
. He also claims that condemned prisoner Iwao Hakamada
Iwao Hakamada
is a former Japanese professional boxer, who was sentenced to death for a June 10, 1966 mass murder. However, he is also suspected to be falsely charged and has not been executed....
is innocent.
See also
- List of WBA world champions
- List of WBC world champions
- List of undisputed boxing champions
- List of The Ring world champions
- List of light middleweight boxing champions