1. Overview
中島 成雄Nakajima ShigeoJapanese, born on January 16, 1954, is a retired Japanese professional boxer who achieved prominence as a former WBC junior flyweight world champion. An alumnus of Komazawa University, Nakajima made his professional debut in July 1976. He went on to capture the WBC Light Flyweight title in January 1980 through a grueling bout against Kim Sung-jun, despite sustaining significant injuries during the fight. He defended his title twice against Hilario Zapata, losing both bouts in March and September 1980, before retiring from the sport in May 1981. Following his boxing career, Nakajima transitioned into business, serving as the president of a golf course development company, and remains involved in the boxing community through social contributions as an executive secretary of the Japan Pro Boxing Association's Pro Boxing World Champions party.
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
Shigeo Nakajima's early life and educational pursuits laid the foundation for his boxing aspirations, culminating in a successful amateur career before his professional debut.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Shigeo Nakajima was born on January 16, 1954, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He attended Ibaraki Prefectural Shimodate Daiichi High School where he first began his boxing training. He later pursued higher education at Komazawa University, a prominent institution in Japan. At Komazawa University, Nakajima excelled not only academically but also as a leading athlete in their boxing program. During his time at the university, he was a contemporary of other notable figures who also pursued professional sports careers, including Kiyoshi Nakahata in baseball and Amanoyama Shizuo in sumo.
2.2. Amateur Boxing Career
Nakajima's boxing journey began during his high school years at the Yonekura Boxing Gym. He continued to hone his skills as an "ace" boxer for Komazawa University. Throughout his amateur career, Nakajima compiled an impressive record of 80 wins against just 15 losses, with 48 of his victories coming by way of knockout. His notable amateur achievements established him as a formidable talent, setting the stage for his transition to professional boxing.
3. Professional Boxing Career
Shigeo Nakajima's professional boxing career spanned from his debut in 1976 to his retirement in 1981, marked by his ascension to a world championship title and subsequent defenses.
3.1. Professional Debut and Early Bouts
Nakajima officially began his professional boxing career on July 12, 1976, securing a second-round knockout victory at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. His early career saw him facing formidable opponents. In August 1977, he secured a significant win by knocking out the reigning Japanese junior flyweight champion Kazunori Tenryū in the third round of a non-title ten-round bout. However, his path was not without challenges. In March 1978, he suffered a fourth-round knockout loss to former WBA flyweight champion Bernabe Villacampo due to a devastating body blow. Later that year, in August, he lost on points to Hwan-Jin Kim, who would later become a WBA junior flyweight champion.
3.2. WBC Light Flyweight Championship
The pinnacle of Nakajima's career came on January 3, 1980, when he challenged Kim Sung-jun for the WBC junior flyweight title at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. His preparation for this pivotal fight was rigorous. Joe Koizumi, a renowned figure in boxing theory who would later be inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, served as Nakajima's trainer. The president of the Yonekura Boxing Gym, Kenji Yonekura, took personal responsibility for Nakajima's training, moving him to an apartment near his own residence and waking him each morning for roadwork sessions.
Despite suffering severe injuries during the championship bout-including a perforated eardrum, cracked ribs, and a cut above his left eye by the third round-Nakajima persevered. Displaying exceptional resilience, quick blows, and agile footwork, he ultimately defeated Kim Sung-jun via a unanimous decision after fifteen grueling rounds, earning him the WBC junior flyweight championship. Just four days after his victory, Nakajima made a public appearance on the Japanese television program Yoru no Hit Studio on Fuji Television, where he was an 応援ゲストōen gesuto (cheering guest)Japanese for Hideki Saijo, who was performing his new song "Kanashiki Yūjō" (Sad Friendship). Nakajima's gymmates, including Fuki Ryu, also participated as backup dancers for Saijo.
3.3. Title Defenses and Retirement
Nakajima's reign as WBC Light Flyweight champion was short-lived. In his first title defense on March 24, 1980, he faced Hilario Zapata at the Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo. In a closely contested bout, Nakajima lost his title via a unanimous decision after 15 rounds. The decision was controversial, with Kenji Yonekura, Nakajima's gym president, publicly protesting the judges' scoring.
A rematch for the WBC Light Flyweight title against Zapata took place on September 17, 1980, at the Civic Center in Gifu city. This time, Nakajima was stopped in the eleventh round via technical knockout. Eight months later, on May 26, 1981, Nakajima suffered an eight-round knockout loss in a non-title ten-round bout against Nobuyuki Watanabe. This defeat marked the end of his professional boxing career, as he retired from the sport.
4. Professional Boxing Record
Shigeo Nakajima concluded his professional boxing career with a record of 13 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. Of his 13 wins, 7 were by knockout, while 3 of his 5 losses were also by knockout. His total career spanned 19 professional bouts. He measured 63 in (160 cm) in height with a reach of 61 in (156 cm).
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Loss | 13-5-1 | Nobuyuki Watanabe | KO | 8 (10) | 1981-05-26 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 18 | Loss | 13-4-1 | Hilario Zapata | TKO | 11 (15) | 1980-09-17 | Civic Center, Gifu, Japan | For WBC light flyweight title |
| 17 | Loss | 13-3-1 | Hilario Zapata | UD | 15 (15) | 1980-03-24 | Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | Lost WBC light flyweight title |
| 16 | Win | 13-2-1 | Kim Sung-jun | UD | 15 (15) | 1980-01-03 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Won WBC light flyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 12-2-1 | Hong Soo Yang | MD | 10 (10) | 1979-11-06 | Japan | |
| 14 | Win | 11-2-1 | Kubomura Tomihisa | KO | 3 (10) | 1979-06-12 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 13 | Win | 10-2-1 | Marciano Sekiyama | KO | 7 (10) | 1979-03-27 | Japan | |
| 12 | Loss | 9-2-1 | Kim Hwan-jin | PTS | 10 (10) | 1978-08-29 | Japan | |
| 11 | Win | 9-1-1 | Puma Koya | PTS | 10 (10) | 1978-06-30 | Japan | |
| 10 | Loss | 8-1-1 | Bernabe Villacampo | KO | 4 (10) | 1978-03-07 | Japan | |
| 9 | Win | 8-0-1 | Yukimitsu Kondo | KO | 3 (10) | 1978-01-24 | Japan | |
| 8 | Win | 7-0-1 | Torayuki Nanasha | KO | 4 (10) | 1977-11-29 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 7 | Win | 6-0-1 | Kazunori Tenryu | KO | 3 (10) | 1977-08-23 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 6 | Win | 5-0-1 | Koichi Maki | MD | 10 (10) | 1977-06-21 | Japan | |
| 5 | Win | 4-0-1 | Masayuki Kobayashi | PTS | 10 (10) | 1977-04-02 | Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 4 | Win | 3-0-1 | Beaver Kajimoto | PTS | 10 (10) | 1976-12-14 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 3 | Win | 2-0-1 | Toshiro Fujii | KO | 5 (8) | 1976-10-12 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 2 | Draw | 1-0-1 | Chi Bok Kim | PTS | 8 (8) | 1976-09-16 | Busan, South Korea | |
| 1 | Win | 1-0 | Shigeo Maezawa | KO | 2 (6) | 1976-07-12 | Japan |
5. Post-Retirement Activities
After concluding his professional boxing career, Shigeo Nakajima embarked on new professional endeavors and maintained an active role within the boxing community through various social contributions.
5.1. Career After Boxing
Following his retirement from professional boxing in May 1981, Nakajima transitioned into the business world. He notably served as the president of a company focused on golf course development. This role marked a significant shift from his athletic career into corporate leadership.
5.2. Social Contributions
Beyond his business pursuits, Nakajima has remained deeply connected to the sport of boxing, particularly through his involvement in social contributions. He currently serves as the executive secretary of the Pro Boxing World Champions party, an internal organization within the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA). This party comprises Japan's world boxing champions and aims to leverage their collective influence for various social betterment initiatives.
6. Assessment and Legacy
Shigeo Nakajima's career is notable for his rise to a world championship title as an alumnus of Komazawa University, marking him as the second world champion to emerge from a university background after Royal Kobayashi. His victory over Kim Sung-jun for the WBC Light Flyweight title, achieved despite enduring severe injuries during the bout, highlighted his immense grit and determination in the ring. Though his championship reign was brief, losing the title to the highly skilled Hilario Zapata, his professional record and the challenging nature of his fights cemented his place in Japanese boxing history. His continued involvement in the sport through the Japan Pro Boxing Association underscores his lasting commitment and contribution to the boxing community.