Top Japanese fighter retires to support comatose boxer brother
Former WBC strawweight champion Yudai Shigeoka believes it is his role to enrich his younger brother's life from now on.
TOKYO - A Japanese boxer is retiring to support his brother who has been in a coma since a bout in May, as the sport in the country
reels from the deaths of two fighters .
Former WBC strawweight champion Yudai Shigeoka's brother Ginjiro collapsed after a fight in Osaka three months ago and underwent emergency brain surgery.
The 25-year-old remains in a coma but is no longer in a life-threatening condition, the Japan Boxing Commission says.
Mr Ginjiro, a former IBF champion at the same weight who has a professional win-loss record of 11-2, was recently transferred to another hospital.
'I encourage him every day, telling him not to give up and to do his best, so that the flame in his heart does not go out,' Yudai, 28, said in an Instagram post on Aug 13.
'I believe it is my role as his older brother to enrich his life from now on.'
'Plans are progressing steadily. That is why I have decided to retire. I have no regrets. The real challenge begins from here on out,' added Mr Yudai, who has a 9-2 record.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks
Business More seniors remain employed after retirement and re-employment ages raised in 2022: MOM study
Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices?
Asia Malaysia's ex-economy minister says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack
Singapore askST: Will assets seized in $3b money laundering case be sold at public auctions?
Singapore Woman, 68, charged over assaulting maid with scissors and nail clipper
Business StarHub first-half profit falls 41.7% to $47.9m; telco eyes 'more aggressive stance' amid competition
Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength
Japanese boxing is under the spotlight after super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, died days after injuries they sustained in separate bouts in Tokyo on Aug 2.
Japanese boxing officials held an emergency meeting this week and vowed to
introduce new safety rules .
New measures to be implemented as soon as possible include urine tests for measuring dehydration and stricter rules on boxers' rapid weight loss, said Mr Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the JBC.
Ambulances will also be required on site, even for non-world championship bouts, something which is common practice in some other countries. AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Kishane Thompson beats Noah Lyles in first 100m head-to-head since Paris Olympics
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Jamaica's Kishane Thompson celebrates his win in the men's 100m final. SILESIA, Poland - Jamaica's Kishane Thompson exacted a measure of revenge by beating Olympic champion Noah Lyles over 100m at the Silesia Diamond League meet on Aug 16. It was the first time the two sprinters have met since Lyles was awarded Olympic gold in Paris a year ago, just five-thousandths of a second ahead of Thompson. The fast-starting Jamaican timed a joint meet record of 9.87sec for victory in the Polish city of Chorzow, with Lyles second in 9.90sec. Another American, Kenny Bednarek, rounded out the podium in 9.96sec. 'It felt alright. My job is to get the job done,' said Thompson. The Jamaican, who missed the cut for the 2023 world championships in Budapest, will be one of the favourites for this year's edition in Tokyo on Sept 13-21. But he downplayed the significance of the result. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked by police, HSA in anti-vape raids at nightspots Singapore SPLRT disruption: 28km of cables to be tested during off-service hours; works to end by Aug 23 Singapore First-half GDP boost likely temporary; Republic must stay relevant amid challenges: Chan Chun Sing Life Six-figure sales each durian season: Why S'pore durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok Singapore Airport-bound public bus to be fitted with luggage rack in 3-month trial: LTA Asia Australian universities slash staff, courses as rising wages and foreign student curbs bite Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Life Pivot or perish: How Singapore restaurants are giving diners what they want 'Honestly, I compete against myself, no offence to the competition,' he said. Lyles put a positive spin on his second place, saying it was a 'great stepping stone'. 'I needed to see a sub-10,' the American said. 'I needed to see winning, beating people, I took out some really big heads today, people who run 9.7 and 9.8. 'I am getting the confidence. It makes me really excited for not only today, but also for next week and Tokyo.' Noah Lyles of the US, Kenneth Bednarek of the US and Jamaica's Kishane Thompson in action during the men's 100m final. PHOTO: REUTERS Lyles was drawn in lane seven, outside Bednarek and inside Christian Coleman, with Thompson in five and South African Akani Simbine to his left. But it was Thompson who stole the march in hot and humid conditions, rocketing out of his blocks to leave the field in his wake for a true gun-to-tape display. Lyles had the joint slowest reaction of the nine-man line-up and looked to be out of even a podium finish from the start before he came through strongly over the closing 20 metres to pinch second place from Bednarek. Second-placed Noah Lyles congratulates Jamaica's Kishane Thompson on his 100m final win. PHOTO: REUTERS Thompson's winning time matched the 9.87sec meet record jointly held by Americans Ronnie Baker and Fred Kerley. It did not quite match the world-leading 9.75sec he set at the Jamaican trials in June, a time which puts him sixth on the all-time list. REUTERS
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Richarlison double helps Spurs thrash promoted Burnley 3-0
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur began the Thomas Frank era in the Premier League with a convincing 3-0 home victory over promoted side Burnley on Saturday thanks to a majestic double from striker Richarlison which included an acrobatic volley. The Brazilian opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he turned in a cross from new recruit Mohammed Kudus and the pair combined again on the hour mark when Richarlison volleyed a well-timed effort into the net to extend the lead. Six minutes later, Brennan Johnson made it 3-0 on the counter-attack after Richarlison won the ball back in midfield as Burnley struggled to deal with Spurs' press and intensity. It was no meek surrender from the visitors, however, as they managed to get forward and take nearly as many shots as Tottenham, but Scott Parker's side lacked quality in finishing. REUTERS
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
French embassy employee arrested in Mali on "unfounded" accusations, says French foreign office
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PARIS - A French man arrested in Mali is a member of the French embassy in the capital Bamako and accusations against him are "unfounded", the French foreign office said in a statement to Reuters on Saturday. The embassy worker, named as Yann Vezilier by the Malian government in a statement on Thursday, was arrested in recent weeks alongside two generals and other military personnel and accused of participating in an alleged plot to destabilise the West African nation. "Dialogue is underway to clear up any misunderstanding," the ministry statement said. It added that his arrest was in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. France's once close relationship with its former colonies in West Africa's Sahel region has soured in recent years since a series of military coups overthrew governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. REUTERS
