Hasegawa captures WBC FW belt in war - Jhonny Gonzalez next in a fight long overdue

Hozumi Hasegawa takes Juan Carlos Burgos' unbeaten record & the vacant WBC FW belt in exciting 12 rounds

Hasegawa sussessfully jumped 2 divisions to capture the vacant WBC FW belt in the absence of Elio Rojas. The classy southpaw had to overcome an April TKO loss to Fernando Montiel and his emotions having lost his mother a few weeks back, but the former BW#1 and P4P-er did just that for the joy of the packed crowd in Nagoya, Japan.

Hasegawa started very well, moving and scoring vs. the tall, hard hitting unbeaten Mexican, but Juan Carlos Burgos show some solid boxing skills and landed some of his own. After two boxing rounds won by Hozumi both fighters started to open up in the exciting R3 & R4, with the hometown hero still outscoring the 22yo in competitive 3 minutes. Hozumi pretty much scored a shut-out on my card after 6, though a headbutt opened a cut, and Burgos found a way in the fight rocking Hasegawa in R7 with a big left uppercut. They brawled for much of our liking and looked like the Mexican fighter is ready to take over.

Hasegawa however came back strong in the close R8, scoring with clean blows when one of the stupidest WBC rules came into play: after another accidental headbutt, Burgos was deducted a point because - listen carefully - Hozumi suffered the worse cut. Say what? Burgos' right eye is also started to close due to the rocket lead lefts from the Japanese fighter, but the Mexican fought back brave. It seemed Hozumi finally was able to hurt his young opponent in R9 and bothered Burgos in R10 as well with hard crisp left hands on the chin. But R11 belonged to Burgos who once again cracked Hozumi's jaw with a big left uppercut, though he landed some low blows in the following, which he apologised for. It looked like both were woobled in the absolutely fantastic last minute of brawl, but the round definitely belonged to Burgos, who at this point was going for the KO.

Hasegawa closed stronger and they both gave the fans something to cheer for, as cut, bruised and tired, they let it all go. Burgos seemed to be in trouble once more but there wasn't enough time or energy to finish inside the distance, so it went to the scorecards and Hozumi rightfully won by 117-110, 117-110 and 116-111. Great display of skills and excitement. Hasegawa, though lost some speed and snap, still was able to sell his long left and short hooks on the inside, and Burgos boxed and brawled just as comfortably, landing several lead rights and good left uppercuts. Nothing to be ashamed of, he just lost to a vastly experinced, fast, mobile former BW great, and I only see good things for him in the future. As for Hasegawa, he grabbed the vacant WBC FW belt and it seems he'll have to face former BW rival Jhonny Gonzalez in a fight that never happened at 118, but should come off at 126.

And where does Hasegawa fit in at featherweight? He looked a bit undersized there with Burgos and it might take some time to bring the recently developed power up, so at the moment, I don't think he's quite ready for the very best. He was a bit over-excited at times and paid the prize, but also quicky overcame tough moments and fought bravely back. Needs to improve his defense a bit and put some snap behind the jab, and he'll be allright.

Great fight to open this Wicked Weekend, and that was just the first of many exciting fights closing this superb November! Here are the introductions and first 2 rounds, follow the rest on YT. Available in HD.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqYb285lLUA[/ame]


Jhonny Gonzalez up next in early 2011

Despite beating the WBC top ranked contender for the vacant belt as a sick Elio Rojas was promoted to champion emeritus (and you'd have expected that fight to be mandated because Elio never lost his belt), Jose Sulaiman and it's Mexican crew wants to see countryman & IBO FW champ Jhonny Gonzalez getting a shot at Hasegawa which will happen in early 2011 in a likely Japanese doubleheader featuring Aoh vs. another Mexican contender. It's interesting, because there are rumors of JuanMa facing Rojas once he's ready, and that makes two WBC FW champions and you wonder as I do how does Gonzalez fit in the picture, but that's the WBC.

Fans who followed the lower weighclasses in the past few years know that Hasegawa-Gonzalez is long overdue as both held a BW belt at the same time, but a unification never came off with issues on both sides (Japan for example does not recognize the WBO, from their standpoint he Montiel fight wasn't a unification). Who would've thought that the two will face two divisions higher, but that's how boxing is today.

There are some interesting facts here. The southpaw Hasegawa lost his belt to Mexican Montiel as he was caught by a monster left hook, and Gonzalez has a cracking, devestating left hand shot. BTW, Jhonny holds a close win over Montiel. On the other hand, after being knocked out by another Asian in Gerry Penalosa, Gonzalez had a go at the WBC 122lbs belt vs. Japanese southpaw Nishioka, and was knocked out by an overhand left and Hasegawa has a great similar shot. While Hozumi is faster with a better (but not great) chin, Gonzalez is bigger and is by far the harder puncher, but with a suspect chin. So whoever lands his punch first might win the fight right there, though Nishioka had to taste Jhonny's power - and the canvas - before delivering his. I think it's a very interesting fight.

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Hozumi Hasegawa (28-3) to face Juan Carlos Burgos (25-0) for vacant WBC 126lbs world title on Friday!

When's former BW champion & no1 fighter out of Japan steps in the ring this Friday, he'll be facing severar challenges. The speedy southpaw has to overcome family tragedy as his mother passed away a couple of weeks ago in a bad year for Hozumi, who lost the 118lbs belt by TKO to Fernando Montiel, and got his jaw broken. The physical challenge will be also big: Hasegawa, who had troubles making 118, jumps up not one but two divisions so that he doesn't have to face his body and fellow southpaw technician Toshiaki Nishioka. And of course the challenge itself is presented by the opponent, unbeaten Mexican puncher Juan Carlos Burgos, the nephew of Victor Burgos. They are fighting for the vacant WBC featherweight belt as fine champion Elio Rojas is out with health problems. The fight takes place in Tokyo Japan and the undercard has a nice fight too between WBC SFW champ Vitali Tajbert, and former FW champ Takahiro Aoh, who was dethroned by Rojas.

The card is an excellent opener to this Wicked Weekend packed with top action, and when the fight is over, the featherweight division will surely have another major player. Will former top BW and P4P-er Hasegawa bring his southpaw magic to 126lbs and join the JuanMa-John-Caballero-Gamboa parade, or will the 22yo Burgos step out of the shadows and step in former Mexican FW greats shoes, such as Barrera, Morales or Marquez? Just a few days and we're gonna find out.

 

Interesting choice. Never heard of ******, but if he beats Garza (who BTW stopped Enoki in Japan), it could be their choice. What is ******'s style and how good is ******?

 

Featherweight it is, Kyodo News reported yesterday that with the Montiel negotiations failed, Hasegawa Hozumi is moving up 2 weight classes to join Gamboa, Lopez, Caballero, John and Rojas in the FW mix. His return is targeted for November, and it is more and more likely that he'll face WBC world champ Elio Rojas (though not necessarily right away). The WBC rankings point to this as well, Hozumi entered the FW ranks at #2.

This is great news boys and girls, the superb Hasegawa in the deep featherweight class, let's just hope he recovered 100% physically and mentally.