Wiki Ippo
Wiki Ippo

Jason Ozuma (ジェイソン・尾妻 (オズマ), Jeison Ozuma) is a retired boxer who was affiliated with the Hachinohe Boxing Club. He was known for his immensely powerful right hooks, intimidating appearance, but with a surprisingly kind and compassionate personality.

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What led Jason Ozuma to become a boxer? toggle section
Jason Ozuma pursued boxing to generate funds for his gym, demonstrating his compassionate and charitable nature. His coach at Hachinohe Boxing Club nurtured his talent and aimed for his development through the East Japan Rookie King Tournament. As an orthodox right-handed in-fighter, Ozuma's resilience against hard punches, like those from Ippo, is notable. He later transitioned from Hachinohe Boxing Club to the Nerima Boxing Group.
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How did Jason Ozuma's background as a soldier influence his boxing style? toggle section
Jason Ozuma's soldier past shaped his boxing style, fostering discipline and resolve. His military training honed his physique, enabling him to excel as an in-fighter and endure heavy punches. He employs an orthodox right-handed in-fighting style, favoring close-range combat for improved precision. His soldierly camaraderie extends to his boxing life, treating his gym community like family and fighting determinedly for their sake.
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What is the significance of Jason Ozuma's right hook in his boxing career? toggle section
In his boxing career, Jason Ozuma's right hook is a crucial element. This hook, his finishing move, is renowned for its power, rivaling even Mamoru Takamura's hooks. Ozuma's strategy involves close-range fighting to enhance his hook's precision. Yet, this technique exposes him to potential body blows and counterattacks when he executes his signature hook.
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How does Jason Ozuma's intimidating appearance contrast with his personality? toggle section
Despite Jason Ozuma's intimidating appearance, marked by his neatly trimmed beard, onyx eyes, and muscular attire, his personality is remarkably different. Ozuma is polite, outgoing, kind, and compassionate. His charitable nature is evident in his motivation for boxing, which is to raise funds for charity.
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What challenges did Jason Ozuma face when he first arrived in Japan? toggle section
Upon his arrival in Japan, Jason Ozuma, an African-American soldier, grappled with homelessness and a lack of direction. Stationed at Misawa Air Base near Hachinohe, Aomori, he found himself without a place to go. He held a belief that action could bring about change, leading him to boxing. His prowess, especially his hook, caught his coach's attention who envisioned him attending Tokyo Boxing School, despite staffing constraints at the gym.
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Background[]

Ozuma was an African-American soldier stationed at the Misawa Air Base near Hachinohe, Aomori. Before becoming a boxer, he was homeless and didn't know where to go when he arrived at Japan. Believing if he did something, he could produce something, he went to the Hachinohe Boxing Club in order to box. There he met some very kind people, such as his coach and the coach's wife, as also the other few club mates which helped him a lot with boxing. Eventually as their relationship grew, he became part of the small club's family.

Having won three matches easily by knockout, he decided to enter the East Japan Rookie King Tournament in order to progress further, his goal to become champion.

History[]

Part I[]

First Rounder Arc[]

Ōta Downed by Ozuma

Ozuma knocking his sparring partner out with a hook.

After sparring at the Hachinohe Boxing Club, he saw his coach's wife hurting her finger while sewing a sandbag. He offered to take over and sew, however, she initially refused before accepting the offer. He then told her that he would continue winning and become a champion to receive money for the gym to prevent her from injuries.

He headed off to the Nerima Boxing Group as everyone bid him farewell, his coach stayed behind to watch over the club as the coach's wife lended him some money to have for the trip. When he arrived to the Nerima Boxing Group, he sparred with Hiroyuki Ōta. When Ōta made Ozuma angry, Ozuma quickly defeated Ōta with a hook that sent him to the hospital. At the day of his first match of the tournament against Ippo Makunouchi, he went to the weigh-in room and passed the weight check. He then went and met Ippo, wishing to have a good fight as he stated that he will do his best.

The hook man

Ozuma throwing his last hook.

When the match arrived, Ozuma went to the ring and the match began. Both fighters did not land a hit for awhile, until Ozuma landed a left that caused Ippo to go down. In the second round, Ozuma managed to knock Ippo down again, before Ozuma got knocked down by a body blow. During the second round, Ozuma threw a right hook, Ippo then ducked and threw a body blow that stunned Ozuma. Ozuma was then hit by a series of punches that knocked him out. Ozuma was unable to get up and lost the match. Ozuma then wished for Ippo to get the Rookie King title.

Later, after winning a match by knockout,[2] it was revealed that Ozuma had retired[3] due to spine damage from the match against Ippo[4].

Match History[]

Match History
Retired
# Result Record Date Opponent Location Time Type Notes
5 WIN 4-1-0 1990 Unknown[5] Japan ?(4) KO/TKO Comeback Match
4 LOSS 3-1-0 1990-06 Ippo Makunouchi[6] Tokyo, Japan 2(4), 2:52 KO East Japan Rookie King Tournament
Round 1

Appearance[]

Jason - 004

Ozuma's appearance.

Towering in height compared to Ippo, Ozuma's appearance can prove to be incredibly intimidating. He has a dark skin tone and black hair. His hairstyle, as expected of a man from the military, is cut short and styled neatly to prevent any stray strands to fall in his line of vision. In addition to that, Ozuma also has a neatly trimmed stubble beard that wraps around his chin and mouth. His eyebrows are short and moderately thick. Ozuma's eyes are onyx in colour.

Ozuma's attire consists of a variety of clothes such as black muscle shirts, buttoned shirts, and jean jackets. In the ring, he wears boxing shorts that are blue in colour with "OZUMA" on his name tag.

Personality[]

Ozuma possesses a polite and outgoing personality. He is kind, compassionate, and charitable, stating that his reason for boxing is to earn money for his gym. He treats his coach and gym mates like his own family, supporting them and fighting for them with hardened resolve.

Boxing Abilities[]

Ozuma is an orthodox right-handed in-fighter and a boxer-fighter.[7] His body, built expertly for an in-fighter, has the ability to withstand the punches of the esteemed hard-puncher Ippo.

Ozuma most frequently fights at close range to increase the precision of his immensely powerful hooks, which are considered his finishing move. Even a single hook of Ozuma's possesses the power to hospitalise an opponent.[8] His hooks in power are comparable to Mamoru Takamura's and in speed it may be higher.[9]

Weaknesses[]

When he throws his signature hook, his body opens up, leaving him very vulnerable to body blows and counterattacks.

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. See Trivia Point
  2. Round 109
  3. Round 461
  4. Round 119
  5. Chapter 109
  6. Chapter 30
  7. Hajime no Ippo Chapter 28, page 2
  8. Hajime no Ippo Chapter 29, page 10
  9. Hajime no Ippo Chapter 29, page 16, 17
  10. http://www.vap.co.jp/ippo/chara.html