Jiro Watanabe

Jiro Watanabe was a Japanese former boxer who became one of the first world super-flyweight champions, holding both the WBA and WBC versions of the title in the early-to-mid 1980s.

Jiro Watanabe won the WBA super-flyweight world title in April 1982 on a 15-round decision in Osaka, then captured the rival WBC belt in 1984 to become a two-time world champion in the division, bringing a Shotokan karate background into a boxing career conducted entirely on home soil. He built an aggressive knockout streak in his early career, including wins over future champion Kōji Kobayashi, before travelling to South Korea and Panama to challenge for world honours. On April 8, 1982, Watanabe defeated Panama's Rafael Pedroza on a 15-round decision in Osaka to win the WBA super-flyweight title — one of the first champions crowned in the newly created division. He defended the belt successfully through 1982 and 1983, including a win over former flyweight champion Shoji Oguma, but lost WBA recognition in 1984 after failing to make a mandatory defence against Thailand's Khaosai Galaxy. Watanabe quickly rebuilt, capturing the rival WBC super-flyweight title later in 1984 and defending it into 1986, before losing it on a decision to Mexico's Gilberto Román. He retired with a professional record of 26 wins and 2 losses, having fought exclusively in Japan and South Korea throughout his career. In later years Watanabe faced multiple legal troubles unrelated to his boxing career, including convictions for blackmail and weapons offences.

Aggressive southpaw with a strong karate-influenced base and heavy hands

A key figure in establishing the super-flyweight division as a legitimate world championship weight class in the 1980s

• WBA super-flyweight champion (1982-1984)
• WBC super-flyweight champion (1984-1986)