Takanori Hatakeyama
Encyclopedia
is a former professional boxer
.
Hatakeyama turned pro in 1993 and captured the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 1998 with a majority decision win over Yong Soo Choi. He lost the belt in 1999 to Lakva Sim
via TKO, and moved up in weight to capture the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO win over Gilberto Serrano
in 2000. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Julien Lorcy
in 2001. Hatakeyama retired after the loss.
win the WBC Bantamweight title. He quit high school, moving to Tokyo to begin serious training.
He made his professional debut at age 17 in June, 1993, without a single fight as an amateur. He won the OPBF Super Featherweight title in 1996, and challenged the WBA Super Featherweight champion Yong-Soo Choi
in 1997. The fight was a close draw, and Choi retained his title.
Hatakeyama challenged the Japanese Super Featherweight champion in March, 1998, winning by 9th round TKO. He immediately returned his title to prepare for another world title match. He fought Yong-Soo Choi
again for the WBA title on September 5, 1998, this time winning by decision to gain his first world title.
Hatakeyama made his first defense with a draw, but lost his second defense match against Lakva Sim
in 1999. He announced his retirement after the fight, but resumed training in 2000, moving up to the Lightweight division.
Hatakeyama's first fight after returning from retirement was a world title match, fighting Gilberto Serrano for the WBA Lightweight title on June 11, 2000. He won by knockout in the 8th round, becoming the fourth Japanese boxer to have captured world titles in two different weight classes. Hatakeyama chose fellow Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Sakamoto to challenge his title, and the two fought an epic fight in October, 2000. Hatakeyama knocked out Sakamoto in the 10th round, making his first defense.
In February, 2001, he fought American born fighter Rick Yoshimura, who had defended the Japanese Lightweight title 22 consecutive times. Hatakeyama managed to keep his title with a draw, but Yoshimura would have won the fight if he had not lost a point for a foul. In July, 2001, he fought former lightweight champion Julien Lorcy
for his third defense. Hatakeyama pushed Lorcy against the ropes several times, but was pummeled repeatedly by Lorcy, and lost the fight by decision. Hatakeyama officially retired after the fight at the young age of 25. His record was 24-2-3 (19KOs).
, and occasionally appears on television shows. He works as a special staff member for a boxing and fitness gym in Kyoto
, personally teaching classes once or twice a month. He married announcer Kumiko Kiyohara on June 17, 2006, and his first son was born in September of the same year. Hatakeyama has another son, born with his former wife in 1996. He also appears as a commentator for K-1
WORLD MAX events. He is known to be an avid fan of the Rakuten Eagles baseball team, and currently attends Aomori University to obtain a bachelor's degree.
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...
.
Hatakeyama turned pro in 1993 and captured the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 1998 with a majority decision win over Yong Soo Choi. He lost the belt in 1999 to Lakva Sim
Lakva Sim
Lakva Sim, , is a professional boxer. Sim was the first Mongolian boxer to capture a world boxing title. He has held belts as both the World Boxing Association lightweight champion and the WBA super featherweight champion.Sim was born in Ulan Bator, Mongolia...
via TKO, and moved up in weight to capture the WBA Lightweight Title with a TKO win over Gilberto Serrano
Gilberto Serrano
Gilberto Rafael Serrano is a former professional boxer. Serrano is most notable for having won the WBA World lightweight title during his career, which spanned from 1993 to 2004. He won the Lightweight title from Stefano Zoff in 1999 after unsuccessfully challenging Yong Soo Choi for the WBA World...
in 2000. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy , was a professional boxer who held the WBA lightweight title twice.- Amateur career :Record: 65-4 *1990 French National Amateur Featherweight Champion...
in 2001. Hatakeyama retired after the loss.
Biography
Hatakeyama played baseball throughout his childhood, wanting to become a professional baseball player when he grew up. However, a boxing match he saw on television made him take an interest in boxing. He decided to become a professional boxer after seeing Joichiro TatsuyoshiJoichiro Tatsuyoshi
is a former World Boxing Council world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 19–6–1 .He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows....
win the WBC Bantamweight title. He quit high school, moving to Tokyo to begin serious training.
He made his professional debut at age 17 in June, 1993, without a single fight as an amateur. He won the OPBF Super Featherweight title in 1996, and challenged the WBA Super Featherweight champion Yong-Soo Choi
Yong-Soo Choi
Yong-Soo Choi is a former boxer from South Korea.In 1993, he won the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight title....
in 1997. The fight was a close draw, and Choi retained his title.
Hatakeyama challenged the Japanese Super Featherweight champion in March, 1998, winning by 9th round TKO. He immediately returned his title to prepare for another world title match. He fought Yong-Soo Choi
Yong-Soo Choi
Yong-Soo Choi is a former boxer from South Korea.In 1993, he won the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight title....
again for the WBA title on September 5, 1998, this time winning by decision to gain his first world title.
Hatakeyama made his first defense with a draw, but lost his second defense match against Lakva Sim
Lakva Sim
Lakva Sim, , is a professional boxer. Sim was the first Mongolian boxer to capture a world boxing title. He has held belts as both the World Boxing Association lightweight champion and the WBA super featherweight champion.Sim was born in Ulan Bator, Mongolia...
in 1999. He announced his retirement after the fight, but resumed training in 2000, moving up to the Lightweight division.
Hatakeyama's first fight after returning from retirement was a world title match, fighting Gilberto Serrano for the WBA Lightweight title on June 11, 2000. He won by knockout in the 8th round, becoming the fourth Japanese boxer to have captured world titles in two different weight classes. Hatakeyama chose fellow Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Sakamoto to challenge his title, and the two fought an epic fight in October, 2000. Hatakeyama knocked out Sakamoto in the 10th round, making his first defense.
In February, 2001, he fought American born fighter Rick Yoshimura, who had defended the Japanese Lightweight title 22 consecutive times. Hatakeyama managed to keep his title with a draw, but Yoshimura would have won the fight if he had not lost a point for a foul. In July, 2001, he fought former lightweight champion Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy , was a professional boxer who held the WBA lightweight title twice.- Amateur career :Record: 65-4 *1990 French National Amateur Featherweight Champion...
for his third defense. Hatakeyama pushed Lorcy against the ropes several times, but was pummeled repeatedly by Lorcy, and lost the fight by decision. Hatakeyama officially retired after the fight at the young age of 25. His record was 24-2-3 (19KOs).
Post retirement
Hatakeyama has succeeded in several careers after retiring from boxing. He opened an amateur boxing gym with former WBA Middleweight champion Shinji TakeharaShinji Takehara
was a professional boxer in the Middleweight division. Takehara was Japan's only boxer to capture a World Middleweight Title, which is also the highest weight class in which a Japanese boxer has captured a World Title....
, and occasionally appears on television shows. He works as a special staff member for a boxing and fitness gym in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, personally teaching classes once or twice a month. He married announcer Kumiko Kiyohara on June 17, 2006, and his first son was born in September of the same year. Hatakeyama has another son, born with his former wife in 1996. He also appears as a commentator for K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
WORLD MAX events. He is known to be an avid fan of the Rakuten Eagles baseball team, and currently attends Aomori University to obtain a bachelor's degree.
Trivia
- Hatakeyama was long thought to be ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, since he often entered the ring wearing a necklace with a large cross, and crossed himself before beginning each round. Hatakeyama has never been baptized, however, and explains that he felt a refreshing calmness when he once entered a church, and tried to bring that calmness with him to the ring. - He appeared on the popular Japanese boxing reality show, "Gachinko Fight Club" hosted by former WBA Middleweight champion Shinji TakeharaShinji Takeharawas a professional boxer in the Middleweight division. Takehara was Japan's only boxer to capture a World Middleweight Title, which is also the highest weight class in which a Japanese boxer has captured a World Title....
. Hatakeyama was still the WBA Lightweight champion when he appeared on the show, and took on one of the disrespectful fighters, putting the figher in his place by schooling him in a sparring session.
See also
- List of WBA world champions
- List of super featherweight boxing champions
- List of lightweight boxing champions