Jiro Watanabe then returned to Japan and won his remaining four bouts for 1981 there, three by knockout.
11 Facts About Jiro Watanabe
1.
2.
Jiro Watanabe won a unanimous 15-round decision and became world champion.
3.
Jiro Watanabe's remaining fights of 1982 were title defenses against former world champions, Gustavo Ballas of Argentina, knocked out in nine rounds, and Shoji Oguma, beaten by a knockout in 12.
4.
Jiro Watanabe had built a considerable points lead over Kwon, but in round ten, their heads collided, causing a gap in Jiro Watanabe's head.
5.
Jiro Watanabe bled profusely, and the fight doctor ordered the fight to be stopped in round eleven, but since it was ruled that the cut was the product of a headbutt, the fight then went to the scorecards, and Watanabe was declared the winner.
6.
In 1984, Jiro Watanabe disposed of another Venezuelan challenger, Celso Chavez, by knocking him out in 15 rounds.
7.
Bantamweight title, and Jiro Watanabe finally earned the WBC's belt, winning by a 12-round decision.
8.
Jiro Watanabe lost to Roman by a 12-round decision and announced his retirement from professional boxing.
9.
In 1999, Jiro Watanabe was spotted at a Seoul activity honoring Asia's greatest boxing champions, alongside Fighting Harada, Jung-Koo Chang, Yoko Gushiken, Sot Chitalada, and former rivals Chul-Ho Kim and Poontarat, among others.
10.
Jiro Watanabe ran an import business in Osaka, and threatened the debtors by saying that he would beat them to death.
11.
Jiro Watanabe has denied the suspicion, but Japan Boxing Commission banished him on 27 July 2007.