Jiro Watanabe boxer

Jiro Watanabe boxer
bouts
28
won
26
lost
2
draw
0
Status
inactive
Division
super flyweight
Debut
1979-03-27
Height
5′ 5½″/166cm
Reach
-
Age
-
Born
1955-03-16
Death
-
Nationality
Japan

Jiro Watanabe (渡辺二郎, Watanabe Jirō, born 16 March 1955) is a Japanese former boxer. Watanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.With a background in Shotokan Karate, he started his professional boxing career with a three-round knockout over Keiza Miyazaki. The fight was in Okayama, Watanabe's birthplace. Two first-round knockout wins followed, one over Yukihiro Kawahira, and another over Noburu Iishi. There was an immediate rematch with Iishi, and, although the second time around Iishi gave him a tougher test, nevertheless, Watanabe still came out a winner, by a knockout in six.Three more knockouts followed, two in the first round, including one over Koji Kobayashi, future WBC world Flyweight champion and brother of former world champion Royal Kobayashi. Then, Watanabe was taken the distance for the first time, against Jin-Hyun Chun in Nagoya, Watanabe winning a six-round decision.After two more decision wins, Watanabe flew to South Korea, where he challenged the WBC world Jr. Bantamweight champion Chul-Ho Kim, losing in his first world title bid by a 15-round decision. Watanabe then returned to Japan and won his remaining four bouts for 1981 there, three by knockout.One of the fighters he beat was Tito Abella, who by then had been ranked as the number one Jr. Bantamweight challenger in the world. Abella was knocked out in four rounds.On April 1982, the WBA Jr. Bantamweight champion of the world, Rafael Pedroza of Panama, the cousin of Eusebio Pedroza, travelled to Osaka to defend his belt against Watanabe on 8 April. Watanabe won a unanimous 15-round decision and became world champion. Watanabe's remaining fights of 1982 were title defenses against former world champions, Gustavo Ballas of Argentina, knocked out in nine rounds, and Shoji Oguma (former two time world Flyweght champion), beaten by a knockout in 12.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1986-03-30 Gilberto Roman WWWWWW Sports Centre, Itami LOST
Unanimous decision
1985-12-13 Suk-Hwan Yun WLWWW Municipal Stadium, Daegu WIN
Technical knockout
1985-09-17 Kazuo Katsuma LWWWWW Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka WIN
Technical knockout
1985-05-09 Julio Soto Solano WWWWWL Korakuen Hall WIN
Unanimous decision
1984-11-29 Payao Poontarat WWWWWL Prefectural Gymnasium, Kumamoto WIN
Technical knockout
1984-07-05 Payao Poontarat WWWWWW Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka WIN
Split-decision
1984-03-15 Celso Chavez WWWWWW Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka WIN
Technical knockout
1983-10-06 Soon Chun Kwon WWWWWW Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
1983-06-23 Roberto Ramirez DWLLWW Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai WIN
Majority decision
1983-02-24 Luis Ibanez WWWWWW Municipal Gym, Tsu WIN
KO
1982-11-11 Shoji Oguma WWWLWW City Gymnasium, Hamamatsu WIN
Technical knockout
1982-07-29 Gustavo Ballas WLWWWW Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
Corner retirement
1982-04-08 Rafael Pedroza WLLWLW Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
Unanimous decision
1981-11-25 Tito Abella LLWWWL Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
KO
1981-10-10 Ali Baba Lukklongtan LLL Korakuen Hall WIN
KO
1981-08-09 Kwang-Soo Lee LLL Korakuen Hall WIN
Unanimous decision
1981-06-29 Berlin Olivetti WLL Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
KO
1981-04-22 ChulHo Kim DWWWWW Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul LOST
Unanimous decision
1980-12-15 Phaktai Lipovitan debut Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
Points
1980-09-02 Chakhtep Chuwatana WW Korakuen Hall WIN
Points
1980-06-14 Jin Hyun Chun debut Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya WIN
Points
1980-02-21 Koji Kobayashi DWWWWW Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
KO
1980-01-19 Yoshihiko Kawahira L City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi WIN
KO
1979-12-01 Shinji Takagi WWLW Budokan, Okayama City WIN
KO
1979-11-01 Noboru Ishii L Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka WIN
KO
1979-07-28 Noboru Ishii debut Sakuranomiya Skating Rink, Osaka WIN
KO
1979-05-19 Yoshihiko Kawahira debut Suzuyo Gym, Shimizu WIN
KO
1979-03-27 Keizo Miyazaki L Budokan, Okayama City WIN
KO