Takeshi Fuji (藤猛, born Paul Takeshi Fuji on July 6, 1940) is a Hawaiian-born Japanese former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...

. He is a former Lineal, WBA and WBC super lightweight ( light welterweight) champion.

Biography

Fuji was born a third generation Japanese-Hawaiian. 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 state ...

, but traveled to Japan, 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 in ...

. Though he fought in Japan for most of his career, he could not speak Japanese. His trainer, Eddie Townsend, was also a

Japanese-American are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 census, they have declined in number to constitute the sixth largest Asi ...

. He made his professional debut in April, 1964 with a 2nd round KO. In June, 1965, Fuji challenged the Japanese super lightweight 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 super lightweight title in 1966, and challenged Lineal, WBA and WBC super lightweight 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 Nicolino Locche (September 2, 1939 – September 7, 2005) was an Argentine boxer from Tunuyán, Mendoza who held the World Junior Welterweight title from 1968 to 1972. Locche is often cited as one of the finest defensive boxers of all time an ...

, defending his WBA light welterweight 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 is the capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 269,330 in 123,282 households and a population density of 1239 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged o ...

. 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