Japanese Scene: Hozumi Hasegawa Prepares for Return to the Ring

Sidney Boquiren of RingwalkNippon had a chance to talk with Hozumi Hasegawa's team regarding the Japanese bantamweight's future plans.  For more updates, you can follow Sidney on twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter

The Boxing Bulletin talked to representatives of Shinsei Gym, home of former WBC Bantamweight king Hozumi Hasegawa, about the southpaw’s comeback, gymmate and current OPBF 118-pound titleholder Malcolm Tunacao, and the gym’s growing army of young prospects. In this first report of the conversation, we focus on an update on Hasegawa’s recovery, plans for his return to the ring and possible future opponents.

Three and a half months removed from the night on which Fernando Montiel suddenly and unexpectedly removed Hozumi Hasegawa from the top of the Bantamweight standings, the former WBC champ and his team are optimistically preparing for a return to the ring. Though the 29-year old has yet to begin regular training and his comeback is still months away, it appears that he and his handlers are hopeful that they will get back on track soon.

Little has changed since April 30, when Hasegawa, despite building a lead on the scorecards through 3+ rounds, was caught by a series of Montiel lefts and stopped with one second left on the clock. Shortly after the fight, the southpaw requested a rematch from the native of Los Mochis, Mexico. A chance to recover his title and reverse the outcome of the spring defeat continues to be his motivation today.

While the boxing media has created some buzz about the prospect of a Showtime tournament for the Bantamweight division in the past few weeks (which ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael confirmed yesterday would proceed with a four-man field), Team Hasegawa is solely focused on a second fight with Montiel.

A member of his representation confirmed, "Our first and foremost target is Fernando Montiel."

The current WBC and WBO champion told Boxingscene.com Wednesday that he will not participate in the Showtime tournament as he wants to keep himself available for other big fights. That includes a showdown with fellow Top Rank fighter Nonito Donaire that could happen later in the year as well as a rematch with Hasegawa. Both fights could earn the three-division titleholder a good paycheck.

Immediately after Montiel destroyed Rafael Conception last month, Japanese boxing media reported that Hasegawa’s representatives were going to start negotiations with the Mexican’s camp. When asked what the chances were that they would be able to get the unified champ in the ring before year’s end, his team replied, "Maybe 50:50."

The southpaw has been back in the gym since the middle of June and is currently in good spirits. The fractured jaw suffered during the Montiel bout is healing well, and if necessary, Hasegawa would be able to fight with the metal plates used to stabilize the fracture still installed.

Though doctors cleared him for full contact a few weeks ago, Hasegawa has primarily been re-acclimating to the gym on a diet of bag work and non-contact sparring. He should resume full contact sparring shortly.

One might inquire as to whether the now former champ will be the same mentally when he makes his return after the brutal and abrupt nature in which the Montiel fight ended. However, Hasegawa’s representatives assure that the loss has not affected him, commenting that he is very eager to fight his next bout.

Team Hasegawa admits that they would have to look at their options should they prove unable to sign Montiel to a rematch within the year. They plan on having the southpaw make his comeback before 2011, so an opponent for a non-title bout would have to be selected if the current champ elects to fight someone else.

Beyond that, if Montiel is still unavailable, other opportunities would have to be considered. As had been publicized earlier in the year, fights with Super Bantamweight stud Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym and Featherweight Chris John could be possible. Contests with either of those titleholders would be excellent. The winner of this weekend’s Anselmo Moreno-Nehomar Cermeno II could also be targeted.

For now, their goal is to finalize the next fight.

Though his return to the ring may prove to be more complicated than in the past, Hasegawa and his team are looking forward to making their comeback. Unfortunately for foreign fans, he will not be a part of what could be a very exciting Bantamweight tournament. However, his desire to return the favor to Montiel is understandable and the rematch, should it be made this year or next, will be highly anticipated.

e-mail Sidney Boquiren

For more coverage of Japanese boxing, follow Sidney on Twitter: RingwalkNippon@Twitter