1. Koichi Wajima is a Japanese former professional boxer who was the undisputed light-middleweight champion.
19 Facts About Koichi Wajima
1. 2.
Koichi Wajima held the WBA and WBC titles from 1971 and 1974, he regained the titles in January 1975 that included The Ring title but lost it right away on June of the same year.
3.
Koichi Wajima won the WBA and The Ring title in 1976.
4.
Wajima was born in Karafuto, which became Soviet territory when Wajima was three years old.
5.
Koichi Wajima lived with his stepfamily while his parents worked in Shibetsu.
6.
Koichi Wajima began to work as a fisherman with his stepfamily.
7.
Koichi Wajima was still in middle school, but had to work from sunset all the way to daybreak.
8.
Koichi Wajima was a fighter from a young age, having to work tirelessly each day, and often picking fights with other kids.
9.
Koichi Wajima made his professional debut in March, 1968, at the age of 25.
10.
Koichi Wajima defended the title 9 times before returning it.
11.
Koichi Wajima got his first shot at the world title against Carmelo Bossi for the world light middleweight title on October 31,1971, in Tokyo, winning by 15-round split decision to capture his first world title.
12.
Koichi Wajima made his first defense in May, 1972, taking less than 2 minutes to knock out his opponent.
13.
Koichi Wajima would defend the title a total of 6 times.
14.
Koichi Wajima quickly became one of the most popular boxers in Japan for his peculiar "Frog Jump" uppercut punch.
15.
Koichi Wajima lost his 7th defense to Oscar Albarado in 1974 by KO in the 15th round.
16.
Koichi Wajima got a rematch with Albarado 7 months later, on January 21,1975, and managed to avenge his loss with a 15-round decision win to regain the Lineal, WBC and WBA titles.
17.
Koichi Wajima lost to Jose Manuel Duran in his first defense, losing the world title for the third time in his career.
18.
Koichi Wajima fought his final match In June, 1977, challenging Eddie Gazo for the WBA super welterweight title, but lost by 11th-round KO.
19.
Koichi Wajima became the head of the Eastern Japan Boxing Council, and has founded his own boxing gym in Tokyo.