Boxer Hozumi Hasegawa (left) is declared the winner in a fight. He currently holds the WBC bantamweight title. Photo provided by WBC.
KOBE, Japan (AP) — World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan defended his title for the ninth time Tuesday, July 14, by beating Nestor Rocha of the United States with a technical knockout in the first round.
The 28-year-old sent Rocha to the canvas twice before the referee stopped the bout after 2 minutes, 28 seconds.
Hasegawa improved to 27-2, 11 by knockout. Rocha, 26, was bidding for his first world title. He dropped to 21-2 (7 KOs).
Born as the second of five children in Nishiwaki, Japan, Hasegawa made his professional debut in 1999. He is the is the only Japanese boxer to have defended a world bantamweight title over four times.
In boxing the term bantamweight usually refers to a class in boxing or boxers who weigh between 112 and 118 pounds ♦