Shigeo Nakajima
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japan
ese boxer
who is a former WBC
junior flyweight
champion. He is an alumnus of the Komazawa University
.
Nakajima began boxing at Yonekura Boxing Gym at the age of a high school student. He compiled an amateur record of 80–15 (48 KOs) before turning professional.
Nakajima made his professional debut with a second round knockout victory at the Korakuen Hall
in Tokyo
in July 1976, and won over the reigning Japanese junior flyweight champion Kazunori Tenryū via a third round knockout in a non-title ten round bout in August 1977. However, he was knocked out by the former WBA
flyweight
champion Bernabe Villacampo with a body blow in the fourth round in March 1978. He lost on points to the future WBA junior flyweight champion Hwan-Jin Kim in August of that year.
On January 3, 1980, Nakajima fought against Kim Sung-Jun
for the WBC junior flyweight title at the Korakuen Hall. Preparing for that fight, Joe Koizumi who is familiar with the boxing theory and was later inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
, served as Nakajima's trainer. The gym's president Kenji Yonekura
made him move to an apartment near his residence, and woke him up every morning to make him do his roadwork. In the third round, his eardrum
was perforated and his rib
s cracked, and he suffered a cut above his left eye. Nevertheless Nakajima was crowned the title via a unanimous decision with his quick blows and footwork.
In his first defense in March 1980, he lost to Hilario Zapata
via a close unanimous decision at the Kuramae Kokugikan
in Tokyo. Yonekura protested that decision of the judges. Yet Nakajima was stopped in the eleventh round of the rematch with Zapata for that title at the Civic Center in Gifu city
in September of the same year. After eight months, Nakajima suffered an eight round knockout loss, and hung up his gloves.
Nakajima once serves as the president of the golf course development company, and currently acts as the executive secretary of the Pro Boxing World Champions party which is the internal organization of the Japan Pro Boxing Associations (JPBA) consisting of Japan's world champions for the social contributions.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese boxer
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...
who 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...
junior flyweight
Light flyweight
- Professional boxing :The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds . When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this...
champion. He is an alumnus of the Komazawa University
Komazawa University
Komazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
.
Nakajima began boxing at Yonekura Boxing Gym at the age of a high school student. He compiled an amateur record of 80–15 (48 KOs) before turning professional.
Nakajima made his professional debut with a second round knockout victory at the Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...
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...
in July 1976, and won over the reigning Japanese junior flyweight champion Kazunori Tenryū via a third round knockout in a non-title ten round bout in August 1977. However, he was knocked out by the former 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...
flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
champion Bernabe Villacampo with a body blow in the fourth round in March 1978. He lost on points to the future WBA junior flyweight champion Hwan-Jin Kim in August of that year.
On January 3, 1980, Nakajima fought against Kim Sung-Jun
Kim Sung-Jun
Kim Sung-Jun was a boxer from South Korea.In January, 1978, he won the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation light flyweight title....
for the WBC junior flyweight title at the Korakuen Hall. Preparing for that fight, Joe Koizumi who is familiar with the boxing theory and was later inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
World Boxing Hall of Fame
The World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized...
, served as Nakajima's trainer. The gym's president Kenji Yonekura
Kenji Yonekura
is a retired Japanese boxer who competed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the flyweight division, and is a former two-time world title challenger in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. Currently he is the president of Yonekura Boxing Gym....
made him move to an apartment near his residence, and woke him up every morning to make him do his roadwork. In the third round, his eardrum
Eardrum
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, is a thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear in humans and other tetrapods. Its function is to transmit sound from the air to the ossicles inside the middle ear. The malleus bone bridges the gap between the eardrum and the other ossicles...
was perforated and his rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s cracked, and he suffered a cut above his left eye. Nevertheless Nakajima was crowned the title via a unanimous decision with his quick blows and footwork.
In his first defense in March 1980, he lost to Hilario Zapata
Hilario Zapata
Hilario Zapata is a former boxer who was a two time world Jr. Flyweight champion and a one time world flyweight champion. Zapata is a Panamanian....
via a close unanimous decision at the Kuramae Kokugikan
Kuramae Kokugikan
was a building situated in the Kuramae district of Tokyo which was built by the Japan Sumo Association and opened in 1950. The Association needed a permanent venue to hold sumo tournaments as the previous, bomb-damaged, Kokugikan had been taken over by occupying Allied forces after World War II...
in Tokyo. Yonekura protested that decision of the judges. Yet Nakajima was stopped in the eleventh round of the rematch with Zapata for that title at the Civic Center in Gifu city
Gifu, Gifu
is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
in September of the same year. After eight months, Nakajima suffered an eight round knockout loss, and hung up his gloves.
Nakajima once serves as the president of the golf course development company, and currently acts as the executive secretary of the Pro Boxing World Champions party which is the internal organization of the Japan Pro Boxing Associations (JPBA) consisting of Japan's world champions for the social contributions.