23 Facts About Takanori Hatakeyama

Takanori Hatakeyama is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2001.

Takanori Hatakeyama is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Association super-featherweight title from 1998 to 1999 and the WBA lightweight title from 2000 and 2001.

Takanori Hatakeyama decided to become a professional boxer after seeing Joichiro Tatsuyoshi win the WBC bantamweight title.

Takanori Hatakeyama quit high school, moving to Tokyo to begin serious training.

Takanori Hatakeyama made his professional debut at age 17 in June 1993, without a single fight as an amateur.

Takanori Hatakeyama won the OPBF Super Featherweight title in 1996, and challenged the WBA Super Featherweight champion Yong-Soo Choi in 1997.

Takanori Hatakeyama challenged the Japanese super-featherweight champion in March 1998, winning by 9th-round TKO.

Takanori Hatakeyama immediately returned his title to prepare for another world title match.

Takanori Hatakeyama fought Yong-Soo Choi again for the WBA title on September 5,1998, this time winning by decision to gain his first world title.

Takanori Hatakeyama made his first defense with a draw, but lost his second defense match against the mandatory challenger Lakva Sim in 1999.

Takanori Hatakeyama announced his retirement after the fight, but resumed training in 2000, moving up to the lightweight division.

Takanori Hatakeyama's first fight after returning from retirement was a world title match, fighting Gilberto Serrano for the WBA lightweight title on June 11,2000.

Takanori Hatakeyama won by technical knockout in the 8th round, becoming the fourth Japanese boxer to have captured world titles in two different weight classes.

Takanori Hatakeyama chose fellow Japanese boxer Hiroyuki Sakamoto to challenge his title, and the two fought an epic fight in October, 2000.

Takanori Hatakeyama managed to keep his title with a draw, but Yoshimura would have won the fight if he had not lost a point for a foul.

Takanori Hatakeyama pushed Lorcy against the ropes several times, but was pummeled repeatedly by Lorcy, and lost the fight by decision.

Takanori Hatakeyama officially retired after the fight at the young age of 25.

Takanori Hatakeyama has succeeded in several careers after retiring from boxing.

Takanori Hatakeyama opened an amateur boxing gym with former WBA Middleweight champion Shinji Takehara, and occasionally appears on television shows.

Takanori Hatakeyama married announcer Kumiko Kiyohara on June 17,2006, and his first son was born in September of the same year.

Takanori Hatakeyama has another son, born with his former wife in 1996.

Takanori Hatakeyama appears as a commentator for K-1 WORLD MAX events.

Takanori Hatakeyama is known to be an avid fan of the Rakuten Eagles baseball team, and attended Aomori University in 2007 to obtain a bachelor's degree.