By Jake Donovan

Akira Yaegashi, meet Hozumi Hasegawa.

The loyal boxing fans in Japan will have to make room in their hearts for two cult heroes, as Hasegawa resurrected his incredible - though believed to be fading - career with a 9th round stoppage of Hugo Ruiz in a major upset Friday evening in Osaka, Japan. 

The bout came in chief support to the bantamweight title fight rematch between Shinsuke Yamanaka and Anselmo Moreno.

Hasegawa was a step ahead in most of the exchanges, but still had to fend off a late rally from Ruiz before forcing the now exiting super bantamweight titlist from Mexico to retire on his stool prior to the start of round ten.

With the win, Hasegawa (36-5, 16KOs) now becomes a three-division champ. His run is similar to that of another all-action hero in Yaegashi, having jumped two weight classes for his second title before coming back down in weight to win the third, and also doing so on his second try.

Ruiz (36-4, 32KOs) loses for the second time in his past three fights, with his lone world title win wedged in between. The knockout artist from Los Mochis - who turns 30 next Wednesday - claimed the crown in a 1st round injury stoppage of countryman Julio Ceja in their rematch this past February after having previously suffered a knockout loss last August.  

Hasegawa previously enjoyed a lengthy bantamweight title reign and a brief stint as a featherweight beltholder, before twice attempting to claim super bantamweight hardware. His first bid at becoming three-division champ resulted in a 7th round knockout loss to Kiko Martinez in April '14, having suffered three knockdowns along the way.

This time around, the 35-year old was able to overcome the worst moments of the fight to dish out savage punishment of his own. The final three minutes of the fight lands in the Round of the Year category, as both boxers traded vicious punches in round nine. It was last call for Ruiz, who appeared to be gassed but managed to rock Hasegawa with a right hand, prompting him to go on the attack. 

Fans in attendance watched with their collective hearts in their throat, but Hasgawa rode out the storm and turned the tables in the final minute of the round. Fittingly, he strolled back to his corner with a gushing cut over his left eye, but still willing to soldier on.

The same cannot be said of Ruiz, whose trainer stood in front of him prior to the start of round ten, an indication that the visiting boxer was done for the evening.

With that development came perhaps the proudest moment in an already incredible boxing career.

"It's like a dream come true," said Hasegawa of becoming a three-division champ, joining Yaegashi, Kazuto Ioka and Koki Kameda on the short list of boxers from Japan to do so.

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