Takeshi Fuji (藤猛, born Paul Takeshi Fuji on July 6, 1940) is a Hawaiian-born Japanese former professional boxer. He is a former Lineal, WBA and WBC

super lightweight Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional boxing In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, ...

(

light welterweight Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional boxing In professional boxing, light welterweight is contested between the lightweight and welterweight divisions, ...

) champion.

Biography

Fuji was born a third generation

Japanese-Hawaiian The Japanese in Hawaii (simply Japanese or “Local Japanese”, rarely Kepanī) are the second largest ethnic group in Hawaii. At their height in 1920, they constituted 43% of Hawaii's population. They now number about 16.7% of the islands' p ...

. He was raised in

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

, but traveled to

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, where he joined the boxing gym run by former professional wrestler

Rikidōzan (born Kim Sin-rak; ; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known as Rikidōzan (), was a Korean-born Japanese wrestler who competed in sumo and professional wrestling. He was known as The Father of Puroresu, and one of the most inf ...

. Though he fought in

for most of his career, he could not speak Japanese. His trainer,

Eddie Townsend Edward "Eddie" Townsend (October 5, 1914 – February 1, 1988) was an American professional boxing trainer. He is revered in Japan for training several boxing world champions. An award given to boxing trainers was established in his honor and ...

, was also a Japanese-American. He made his professional debut in April, 1964 with a 2nd round KO. In June, 1965, Fuji challenged the Japanese

title, and won by KO only 45 seconds into the first round. This was his 11th professional fight, and he defended the title once before returning it. Fuji won the OPBF

title in 1966, and challenged Lineal, WBA and

WBC WBC may stand for: Business *Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS *Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company *Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...

champion

Sandro Lopopolo Alessandro "Sandro" Lopopolo (18 December 1939 – 26 April 2014) was an Italian 1959 amateur featherweight and 1960 amateur lightweight boxing champion, and also world boxing champion in the light welterweight division afterwards, when he turn ...

in April, 1967. Fuji won by KO in the second round to become the new world champion. Fuji made his first defense in November, 1967, before returning his title. In December, 1968, he faced Nicolino Locche, defending his WBA

title, but gave up in the 10th round. In June, 1970, Fuji was scheduled to face former world champion

Eddie Perkins Eddie Perkins (March 3, 1937 – May 10, 2012) was an American light welterweight boxer. He compiled an amateur boxing record of 26–10. Professional career Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Perkins turned professional in 1956. He was man ...

in a non-title match, but suddenly withdrew from the fight claiming to have an injury. The Japan Boxing Commission penalized Fuji with a suspension, and he retired shortly afterwards. His record was 34-3-1 (29KOs). He used to work as a trainer at a boxing gym in Mito, Ibaraki. He once served as a member of the

United States Marine corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

. He is retired now and living in Hawaii.

References

External links

*
Takeshi Fuji - CBZ Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuji, Takeshi 1940 births Boxers from Hawaii American expatriates in Japan Living people Sportspeople from Honolulu World Boxing Association champions World Boxing Council champions The Ring (magazine) champions World light-welterweight boxing champions World boxing champions American sportspeople of Japanese descent American male boxers

Biography

See also

References

External links