Preparing for Hasegawa vs Montiel

It is all set. Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel of Mexico (40-2-2 — 30 KO) will challenge Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan (28-2-0 — 12 KO) for the WBC Bantamweight Championship on April 30, 2010. This fight was bound to happen eventually and I’m sure we’re all glad it’s here.

We all saw Fernando Montiel in the ring less than a month ago. He was featured as the co-main event on the Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 card. We also saw him destroy inexperienced Filipino boxer, Ciso Morales with a lone left hook to the body. Montiel does possess the signature left hook that most Mexican fighters use, but I have to say, Montiel has mastered this punch to perfection. Whether it’s to the head or body, any future Montiel opponents better hope they can see this punch coming because it’s guaranteed to hurt you. Montiel’s ability to box or brawl, if necessary and the fact that his punches seem to always be extremely accurate and always on time is a problem for anyone. Believe me, Ciso Morales, Martin Castillo and Diego Oscar Silva, just to name a few, could tell you all about it.

Fernando Montiel has had his down time though. Montiel’s losses have both been by decision. The first was in 2003 against Mark Johnson and 3 years later against well-known Mexican contender Jhonny Gonzalez. Recently, before his fight with Morales, Montiel battled Alejandro Valdez to a 3- round technical draw. The beginning of the fight started out in Montiel’s favor, with him sending Valdez to the canvas with one of those deadly left hooks. This was all until a sudden cut formed over Montiel’s left eye and left him petting at the blood for the duration of the fight. He completely lost full focus on his opponent. Ever since that night, Fernando Montiel has wanted to redeem himself.

This must be where Hozumi Hasegawa comes into play. As a matter of fact, somebody please tell me why Hozumi Hasegawa is not listed in the P4P rankings? He has fought in the bantamweight division for about a decade now and has reigned as the WBC champion for 5 years and defended his title a total of 10 times. He is recognized as one of the top if not the best, 118-lb fighters in boxing. Most might say this is because he has spent his career fighting in his native land of Japan, resting in their “arms of safety” for his country’s fear of their national hero losing. Or that Hasegawa has been forced to remain fighting opponents in the WBC or WBA rankings, considering Japan fails to recognize the WBO, IBO or IBF as legitimate sanctioning bodies. This all may be true, but Hasegawa has continued to fight at least the Top 3 contenders in his class, ranked by the WBC, as his opponents.

Hasegawa’s way of fighting better known as “punches in bunches” has many people calling him the “Japanese Pacquiao”. Both of Hasegawa’s losses were also by decision and obtained in the beginning of his career, in 2000 and 2001. Fellow Japanese fighters issued them to him and ever since then Hozumi Hasegawa has been on a winning streak and hasn’t looked back. Hasegawa captured his WBC belt in 2005 against long-time champion Veeraphol Sahaprom of Thailand. Hasegawa is really a boxer-puncher, but he does carry a mean arsenal of weapons too. His straight left, right hook and left hook are something for Montiel to seriously look out for. Believe me, Nestor Rocha, Alvaro Perez and Cristian Faccio would concur.

Overall, I don’t have a prediction for this fight because I think both fighters stand a strong chance of beating each other. Of course actions speak louder than words and if my descriptions of both these fighter’s capabilities wasn’t enough for you, YouTube can be a wonderful thing. Please forgive me Floyd and Shane, but to the people reading, WHO R U PICKING?

For whoever it may be, ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves.

This will be war.