Legendary amateur Chiharu Ogiwara passes, aged 67

Earlier today Japanese news sites reported the sad passing of former amateur standout Chiharu Ogiwara [荻原 千春], at the age of 67, with Ogiwara passing away on June 20th following a heart attack in May, with his passing occuring at a hospital in Saitama Prefecture.

When we talk about amateur legends in Japan there are very few that match Ogiwara. He competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Light Middleweight, where he stopped Mario Centeno in the second round, before losing a decision to Rod Douglas of the UK. He also won 8 All Japan titles, a record at the time, and also won the Asian Championships in 1983 and Silver at the 1986 Asian Games. His success saw some in Japan realise they could develop boxers at bigger weights, though success in those higher weights has still been limited.

After retiring from in ring action he remained a notable figure on the Japanese amateur boxing scene, working as a coach, manager, at the Self Defenses Forces (SDF), before retiring aged 55 and becoming an amateur referee. In later years he even began coaching at the prestigious Keio University.