Hiroshi Kawashima facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hiroshi Kawashima |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Hiroshi Kawashima |
| Rated at | Super flyweight |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
| Born | March 27, 1970 Tokushima Prefecture, Japan |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 24 |
| Wins | 20 |
| Wins by KO | 14 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Hiroshi Kawashima (born March 27, 1970) is a famous former professional boxer from Japan. He was a world champion in the super flyweight division. He successfully defended his WBC super flyweight title six times.
Contents
Early Life and Boxing Start
Hiroshi Kawashima started boxing when he was very young. His father helped him learn the sport. Hiroshi's older brother, Shinobu Kawashima, also became a professional boxer. Shinobu even fought for a world title later on.
High School Success
In his final year of high school, Kawashima won a big national boxing tournament. He beat Katsuya Onizuka, who would also become a world champion, in the semi-finals. After finishing high school, Kawashima moved to Tokyo. He began his professional boxing career in August 1988.
Professional Boxing Journey
Kawashima's professional career didn't start perfectly. He lost two of his first six fights by knockout. These early losses taught him an important lesson. He decided to work hard on his defense to protect himself better. Because of this, he became known as one of Japan's most difficult boxers to hit.
Overcoming Challenges
In January 1991, Kawashima broke his left hand. This injury kept him out of the ring for over a year. But he didn't give up! He came back strong and won the Japanese super flyweight title in July 1992. He defended this title three times before giving it up to aim for a world championship.
Becoming a World Champion
On May 4, 1994, Hiroshi Kawashima got his chance to fight for a world title. He challenged Jose Luis Bueno, who was the WBC and lineal (true) super flyweight champion. Kawashima won the fight after 12 rounds by a unanimous decision. This made him the new world champion!
Defending the Title
In his first defense, Kawashima beat Carlos Gabriel Salazar, who later became an IBF champion. Kawashima was a strong champion. He successfully defended his WBC title a total of six times against different challengers.
Final Fight and Retirement
On February 20, 1997, Kawashima faced Gerry Penalosa for his seventh title defense. He lost the fight by a split decision after 12 rounds. After this fight, doctors found that Kawashima had a torn retina in his eye. This injury meant he had to retire from boxing to protect his health. His final boxing record was 20 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with 14 knockouts.
Even though other Japanese boxers like Katsuya Onizuka and Joichiro Tatsuyoshi were very popular, Kawashima worked hard to overcome his challenges. He built a very successful and respected professional boxing career.
Life After Boxing
After retiring from boxing, Hiroshi Kawashima often appears as a boxing commentator. He shares his knowledge and experience with fans. In 2005, he opened his very own boxing gym in Ōta, Tokyo. He now helps train new boxers and continues to be involved in the sport he loves.
See also
- List of super-flyweight boxing champions
- List of Japanese boxing world champions
- Boxing in Japan
