Over the last 24 hours news has broken that Oscar Valdez (20-0, 18) will be making his first defense of the WBO Featherweight title against Japan’s Hiroshige Osawa (30-3-4, 19). Unlike many other Japanese fighters however Osawa a bit of an unknown with footage being hard to come by and TV appearances from the fighter also being very rare.
So ahead of the biggest fight of his life I’ve decided to try and educate some fight fans on the unknown challenger.
1-Osawa was born in Osaka in 1985 and made his debut at the age of 18, fighting to a draw with the then win-less Narutoshi Ishimizu. The slow start continued with Osawa ending his first year in the ring with a 1-0-2 record.
2-Despite the poor first year he had a good run in 2005, a run that saw him go 4-1 (3) and claim the West Rookie of the Year crown at Lightweight.
3-Although he won the Rookie of the West he failed to reach the All Japan final, losing to Daiki Koide in a bout to find the West representative to take on the East Japan Rookie of the Year. For those interested the All-Japan Rookie that year at Lightweight was Nihito Arakawa.
4-Osawa’s last loss came more than 7 years ago, when he suffered a split decision to Mitsuya Omura in August 2009. Incidentally that loss was his last bout as a Lightweight with the fighter immediately dropping to Super Featherweight.
5-Osawa’s Super Featherweight run didn’t last long, tough did see him go 4-0 (2), and he quickly dropped down to Featherweight. It’s been at 126lbs that he has carved out a notable career for himself.
6-In his first bout at Featherweight he claimed the OPBF title, becoming the champion of the Oriental and Pacific region. He claim the belt by by taking a split decision over Filipino Jonel Alibio, who was defending the title for the first time following an upset win over Naoki Matsuda 6 months earlier. Notably Osawa would himself defeat Matsuda in his first defense of the title.
7-Osawa was the first Japanese fighter to claim a WBO Asia Pacific title on Japanese soil, albeit the interim title that he won when he defeated Robert Kopa Palue. Incidentally that title would later get Osawa in a lot of trouble and see him suffer a 1 year suspension for deceiving the JBC.
8-In his third defense of the OPBF title Osawa drew with the then 14-11-4 Noriyuki Ueno. Although Ueno’s record is less than flattering he is now set to fight for the Japanese Featherweight title (facing Shota Hayashi on September 24th so there is a chance that fight has already been by the time you’re reading this!)
9-Back to that pesky interim WBO Asia Pacific title. In December 2012 Osawa fought Jason Butar Butar in Korea and defended the title with a 9th round KO. The bout had got sanction from the JBC under the belief it would be a non-title bout but when Osawa defended the title the JBC were incredibly annoyed and suspended Osawa and those involved in the Oboshi Gym.
10-Since his return from his ban Osawa has scored 7 wins, all by T/KO including wins over the promising Kosuke Saka and a win over Yon Armed for the WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight title. Yes it really does seem like Osawa loves that belt!
11-Unlike many top fighters in the country he isn’t affiliated with a top gym. He’s not with someone like Ohashi, Watanabe, Ioka or Teiken. Instead his career is guided by Romanza Miyabi. Although a small gym in Japan it is well regarded and works in connection with the Romanza gym in Mexico, meaning it’s affiliated with the likes of Nacho Beristain.
12-For those who follow star signs Osawa is a Taurus, born on May 19th. Whilst most of course don’t believe in horrorscopes the star sign is an apt one for Osawa who is known outside of the ring as the “Caregiving Boxer” due to his work with handicapped children, specifically those with mental issues.
13-Although known as the “Caregiving boxer” Osawa himself has adopted the nickname “Dinamta”, after Juan Manuel Marquez.
14-The bout against Valdez will be Osawa’s third outside of Japan, following bouts in Philippines and South Korea. Interestingly this will only be his 6th bout outside of Osaka and he is 5-1-1 outside of his home prefecture, with a 1-1-1 record in Tokyo.
15-Hiroshige has an official website, for those interested that website is http://hiroshige0519.com.
(Scott Graveson covers the Asian boxing scene for asianboxing
