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

Only JuanMa ATM top10 at The Ring, Cab was taken off (and I wonder why at the very point he looked the best). Anyway, many, many top quality fighters around 126. Wicked years to come!

 

You should watch it on YT before it's taken down.

 

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, and expect the winner to join the best at the top of this great weight-class.