1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Watanabe was born in Yakage, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and later grew up in Osaka. He has a B blood type. He attended Namioka High School (now Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences Namioka High School) and graduated from Otemon Gakuin University with a degree in English and American Literature. During his high school years, he was part of the swimming club, and in university, he excelled in Nippon Kempo, where he achieved a 4th place finish at a world championship.
After graduating from university, Watanabe decided to pursue weight-class boxing, joining the Osaka Teiken Gym as an amateur. His amateur boxing record was four wins and zero losses.
2. Professional Boxing Career
Jiro Watanabe's professional boxing career spanned from 1979 to 1986, during which he became a two-time world champion in the super flyweight division. He was known for his strategic and intelligent fighting style.
2.1. Early Professional Fights
Watanabe made his professional debut on March 27, 1979, in his hometown of Okayama, securing a three-round knockout victory over Kiezo Miyazaki. This was followed by two more first-round knockout wins against Yukihiro Kawahira and Noboru Ishii. He had an immediate rematch with Ishii, winning again by knockout in the sixth round despite a tougher challenge. Three more knockout victories followed, two in the first round, including one against Koji Kobayashi, who would later become a WBC world flyweight champion and is the brother of former world champion Royal Kobayashi. Watanabe then went the distance for the first time in his career against Jin-Hyun Chun in Nagoya, winning by a six-round decision.
After two more decision wins, Watanabe traveled to South Korea for his first world title challenge on April 22, 1981. He faced WBC world Jr. Bantamweight (super flyweight) champion Chul-Ho Kim in Seoul, but lost by a 15-round decision. Following this, Watanabe returned to Japan, winning his remaining four bouts in 1981, three of which were by knockout. One notable victory was against Tito Abella, who was ranked as the number one Jr. Bantamweight challenger at the time, whom Watanabe knocked out in four rounds.
2.2. WBA Super Flyweight Championship
On April 8, 1982, in Osaka, Watanabe had his second world title opportunity, challenging Rafael Pedroza of Panama, the WBA Jr. Bantamweight champion. Pedroza was the cousin of the legendary featherweight champion Eusebio Pedroza. Watanabe won the fight by a unanimous 15-round decision, becoming the WBA world champion.
Watanabe successfully defended his WBA title six times. His defenses included victories against former world champions such as Gustavo Ballas of Argentina, whom he knocked out in nine rounds on July 29, 1982. On November 11, 1982, he defeated Shoji Oguma, a two-time former world flyweight champion, by knockout in 12 rounds. Other successful defenses were against Luis Ibañez (KO 8), Roberto Ramirez of Mexico (decision 15), Soon-Chun Kwon (technical decision 11), and Celso Chavez (TKO 15). The fight against Soon-Chun Kwon in October 1983 was stopped in the eleventh round due to a cut on Watanabe's head caused by an accidental headbutt in the tenth round; Watanabe was declared the winner based on the scorecards due to his considerable points lead.
2.3. WBC Super Flyweight Championship and Unification
In 1984, Jiro Watanabe aimed to unify the world's super flyweight titles. He was scheduled to face WBC world champion Payao Poontarat of Thailand. However, the WBA refused to sanction this unification bout due to differences in rules, such as the WBA's 15-round format versus the WBC's 12-round format for world title fights at the time. The WBA declared that Watanabe would be stripped of his title if he proceeded with the fight against Poontarat, specifically for refusing to defend against his mandatory challenger, Khaosai Galaxy.
Despite the WBA's stance, Watanabe proceeded with the fight against Poontarat on July 5, 1984, in Osaka. The WBA did not immediately strip him upon entering the ring, but rather after the fight's conclusion, resulting in a brief moment where he technically held both titles. Watanabe won the WBC title by a controversial 12-round split decision. Poontarat's side expressed dissatisfaction with the judging and appealed the decision. Watanabe himself later recalled that Poontarat was "a class above" in terms of boxing skill. With this victory, Watanabe also became the first lineal champion in the super flyweight division.
An immediate rematch between Watanabe and Poontarat took place on November 29, 1984. This time, Watanabe secured a more decisive victory, winning by an 11-round knockout, which effectively settled their rivalry. As a WBC champion, Watanabe successfully defended his title four times. This included victories over Julio Soto Solano (decision 12), Katsuo Katsuma (KO 7), and Suk-Hwan Yun (KO 5). His 12 consecutive world title fight wins set a Japanese record at the time, second only to Yoko Gushiken's 14. His defense against Yun Suk-Hwan on December 13, 1985, in South Korea, marked the first time a Japanese world champion successfully defended a world title outside of Japan, securing a fifth-round knockout after knocking Yun down six times.
2.4. Boxing Retirement
Watanabe's final professional fight was on March 30, 1986, at the Sports Centre in Itami, Japan, where he defended his WBC title against Gilberto Román of Mexico. He lost the fight by a 12-round decision, resulting in the loss of his world title. Following this defeat, Watanabe announced his retirement from professional boxing, concluding his career with a record of 26 wins (18 by knockout) and 2 losses in 28 professional bouts.
He officially announced his retirement on November 8, 1991. A retirement ceremony was held for him in September 1992 at Osaka-jo Hall, preceding a world title defense by his gym junior, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. Watanabe also participated in an exhibition match against Khaosai Galaxy at Korakuen Hall in November 1994. Notably, a professional fight between Watanabe and Galaxy had been anticipated during Watanabe's WBA championship reign but never materialized due to the WBA stripping him of the title.
An interesting anecdote regarding his retirement is that despite being physically capable of continuing, Watanabe was deeply impressed by the talent and boxing sense of a then-training partner, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, during a sparring session. This experience contributed to his decision to retire. He later recounted that after struggling with the decision, he bought a cigarette from a vending machine one night, and after smoking it, he realized "Ah, it's really over now," with tears streaming down his face, a poignant symbol of his departure from boxing.
3. Post-retirement Activities and Legal Controversies
After retiring from boxing, Jiro Watanabe pursued various ventures, including becoming a businessman, boxing commentator, lecturer, and television personality. However, his post-retirement life was significantly marked by a series of high-profile legal issues and arrests, which tarnished his public image and led to severe consequences within the boxing community.
3.1. Early Activities
Following his retirement, Watanabe quickly transitioned into new roles. He established an import business in Osaka. He also became a recognized voice in boxing commentary, sharing his expertise with audiences. Additionally, he engaged in public speaking and made appearances as a television personality, leveraging his fame as a former world champion.
3.2. Legal Cases and Arrests
Watanabe's legal troubles began in 1995 when he was arrested on suspicion of attempted blackmail related to the repayment of a loan from a financial institution. He was accused of threatening debtors, saying he would beat them to death. Although police suspended judgment, leading to his release, this marked his first major legal entanglement.
In October 1999, Watanabe was arrested again, this time for violating the Japanese Swords and Firearms Control Law by providing an automatic rifle to a friend who was later prosecuted for murder. In July 2000, he was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment. He was released in 2004 after serving his sentence.
Further legal issues arose in June 2007. On June 4, he was arrested by the Osaka Prefectural Police on suspicion of witness intimidation, accused of pressuring a victim to prevent them from filing a police report regarding an assault case involving an acquaintance. He was released a week later with a suspended prosecution. However, on July 27, 2007, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) issued an indefinite suspension of his license, effectively a permanent ban from the boxing world, stating that he would no longer be recognized among former world champions.
On June 30, 2007, Watanabe was again arrested and indicted on charges of blackmail, in connection with the Kenji Haga unregistered stock fraud case. He was arrested alongside former actor Kenji Haga and a yakuza member from the Yamaguchi-gumi organization. Although he initially received a not-guilty verdict from the Osaka District Court on November 28, 2008, an appeal by the prosecution led to a reversal. In June 2011, the Osaka High Court overturned the acquittal, sentencing him to two years in prison. His appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed on April 1, 2013, solidifying the two-year sentence. A defense witness who testified favorably for Watanabe and Haga in this case was later prosecuted for perjury.
3.3. Allegations of Yakuza Involvement and Public Image
During the legal proceedings related to the Kenji Haga case, it was widely reported that Jiro Watanabe was affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, a designated yakuza organization, specifically serving as an advisor to its Gokushin Rengokai affiliate. While the Gokushin Rengokai disbanded in 2019, Watanabe's current status regarding such associations remains undisclosed.
His alleged ties to organized crime significantly damaged his public image and led to the JBC's decision to banish him, effectively disassociating him from the sport's legitimate activities. In 2011, Watanabe was also reported as the individual whose email correspondence was the cause of the retirement of popular Japanese entertainer Shinsuke Shimada from the entertainment industry, further highlighting his controversial connections.
In November 2012, Watanabe was arrested again, this time on suspicion of fraud, along with a senior member of the Yamaguchi-gumi. The charges stemmed from allegations that they concealed their yakuza affiliations to use a golf course. However, on December 28, 2012, he was not indicted due to insufficient evidence.
3.4. Defamation Lawsuit
In February 2016, a program on TV Asahi's Hodo Station reported testimony from a former detective who claimed that baseball player Kazuhiro Kiyohara had been introduced to yakuza members by a former world champion boxer based in Osaka. Watanabe subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against TV Asahi, seeking 10.00 M JPY in damages, arguing that the report implicitly linked him to the alleged introduction and thus defamed him. On June 29, 2017, the Osaka District Court ruled in favor of Watanabe, acknowledging that viewers could easily associate the report with him given his past history. The court ordered TV Asahi to pay 1.50 M JPY in damages.
4. Boxing Style and Anecdotes
Jiro Watanabe's boxing style was highly regarded for its intelligence and tactical precision, earning him the moniker "Fighting Computer." His approach emphasized clever footwork, defensive prowess, and accurate counter-punching. However, this strategic approach sometimes resulted in fights that lacked the explosive excitement sought by some fans.
In a column he wrote for Boxing Magazine after his professional career, Watanabe offered realistic advice to aspiring boxers, stating that "if you realize you don't have the talent to be a boxer, you shouldn't pursue it. The world of boxing is harder and tougher for the weak." He also shared unique training methods, such as strengthening dynamic vision by watching scenery from a train, and emphasized personal discipline, like changing sweat-drenched T-shirts to avoid inconveniencing other trainees.
Watanabe once commented on how Fighting Harada spoke of losing over 22 lb (10 kg) for a fight, suggesting it was something to be ashamed of rather than proud of, implying a lack of consistent discipline in managing weight.
As mentioned, a significant anecdote related to his retirement concerns a sparring session with fellow Osaka Teiken Gym stablemate Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. Despite being physically capable of continuing his career after losing his title to Gilberto Román, Watanabe was so astounded by Tatsuyoshi's raw talent and natural boxing sense during their sparring that it became a catalyst for his decision to retire. He later recounted that after contemplating his future, he bought a cigarette one night and, upon smoking it, muttered, "Ah, it's really over now," as a single tear rolled down his cheek, symbolizing the end of his boxing journey.
5. Assessment and Legacy
Jiro Watanabe's career is marked by both significant accomplishments in the boxing world and substantial controversies that arose in his post-retirement life.
5.1. Boxing Achievements
As a boxer, Jiro Watanabe achieved considerable success and established himself as a dominant force in the super flyweight division. He was a two-time world champion, winning both the WBA and WBC titles. His defense record for the WBA title stood at six successful defenses, and for the WBC title, he achieved four successful defenses. His remarkable streak of 12 consecutive world title fight victories is the second highest for a Japanese boxer, surpassed only by Yoko Gushiken's 14 defenses. He also made history as the first Japanese world champion to successfully defend a world title outside of Japan, a testament to his skill and adaptability. His strategic boxing style earned him the nickname "Fighting Computer," reflecting his intellectual approach to the sport.
5.2. Criticisms and Controversies
Despite his achievements in the ring, Jiro Watanabe's legacy is significantly complicated by his repeated involvement in criminal activities and his alleged ties to yakuza organizations following his retirement. He faced arrests and convictions for offenses including blackmail and illegal gun possession, serving a prison sentence. His reported association with the Yamaguchi-gumi, a designated yakuza group, and subsequent arrests for alleged fraud (e.g., concealing yakuza ties to use a golf course) have led to a critical public image. The Japan Boxing Commission's decision to permanently ban him from the boxing world underscores the severity with which his actions were viewed by the sport's governing body. These controversies detract from his otherwise impressive boxing career and present a complex and often negative aspect of his public persona.
6. Professional Boxing Record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Loss | 26-2 | Gilberto Román | UD | 12 | March 30, 1986 | Sports Centre, Itami, Japan | Lost WBC super-flyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26-1 | Suk Hwan Yun | TKO | 5 (12), 2:34 | December 13, 1985 | Municipal Stadium, Daegu, South Korea | Retained WBC super-flyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25-1 | Kazuo Katsuma | TKO | 12 (12), 1:26 | September 17, 1985 | Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBC super-flyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24-1 | Julio Soto Solano | UD | 12 | May 9, 1985 | Korakuen Hall, Japan | Retained WBC super-flyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23-1 | Payao Poontarat | TKO | 11 (12) 1:54 | November 29, 1984 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Kumamoto, Japan | Retained WBC super-flyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22-1 | Payao Poontarat | SD | 12 | July 5, 1984 | Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan | Won WBC super-flyweight title; WBA super-flyweight title stripped |
| 22 | Win | 21-1 | Celso Chavez | TKO | 15 (15) | March 15, 1984 | Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20-1 | Soon Chun Kwon | TD | 11 (12), 3:00 | October 6, 1983 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19-1 | Roberto Ramirez | MD | 15 | June 23, 1983 | Miyagi Sports Center, Sendai, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18-1 | Luis Ibanez | KO | 8 (15), 1:22 | February 14, 1983 | Municipal Gym, Tsu, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17-1 | Shoji Oguma | TKO | 12 (15) | November 11, 1982 | City Gymnasium, Hamamatsu, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 16-1 | Gustavo Ballas | RTD | 9 (15), 3:00 | July 29, 1982 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | Retained WBA super-flyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 15-1 | Rafael Pedroza | UD | 15 | April 8, 1982 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | Won WBA super-flyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 14-1 | Tito Abella | KO | 4 (10), 1:46 | November 25, 1981 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 14 | Win | 13-1 | Ali Baba Lukklongyan | KO | 5 (10), 2:25 | October 10, 1981 | Korakuen Hall, Japan | |
| 13 | Win | 12-1 | Kwang Suk Lee | UD | 10 | August 9, 1981 | Korakuen Hall, Japan | |
| 12 | Win | 11-1 | Berlin Olivetti | KO | 2 (10), 2:22 | June 29, 1981 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 11 | Loss | 10-1 | Chul Ho Kim | UD | 15 | April 22, 1981 | Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South Korea | For WBC super-flyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10-0 | Phaktai Lipovitan | PTS | 10 | December 15, 1980 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 9 | Win | 9-0 | Chakhtep Chuwatana | PTS | 10 | September 2, 1980 | Korakuen Hall, Japan | |
| 8 | Win | 8-0 | Jin Hyun Chan | PTS | 6 | June 14, 1980 | Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya, Japan | |
| 7 | Win | 7-0 | Koji Kobayashi | KO | 1 (6), 2:15 | February 21, 1980 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | Won All Japan Flyweight Newcomer King title |
| 6 | Win | 6-0 | Yoshihiko Kawahira | KO | 4 (6), 1:47 | January 29, 1980 | City Gymnasium, Yokkaichi, Japan | |
| 5 | Win | 5-0 | Shinji Takagi | KO | 1 (6), 1:46 | December 1, 1979 | Budokan, Okayama City, Japan | Won West Japan Flyweight Newcomer King title |
| 4 | Win | 4-0 | Noboru Ishii | KO | 6 (6), 2:16 | November 1, 1979 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
| 3 | Win | 3-0 | Noboru Ishii | KO | 1 (4), 1:25 | July 28, 1979 | Sakuranomiya Skating Rink, Osaka, Japan | |
| 2 | Win | 2-0 | Yoshihiko Kawahira | KO | 1 (4), 2:35 | May 19, 1979 | Suzuyo Gym, Shimizu, Japan | |
| 1 | Win | 1-0 | Kiezo Miyazaki | KO | 3 (4), 2:50 | March 27, 1979 | Budokan, Okayama City, Japan | Professional debut |