Latest news with #Japan Boxing Commission
National Post
7 hours ago
- Health
- National Post
Japan boxing to adopt stricter safety rules after deaths of two fighters
Japanese boxing officials said on Tuesday they would introduce urine tests, stricter rules on weight loss to prevent dehydration and improve medical cover at bouts following the deaths of two fighters. Article content The new measures were adopted during an emergency meeting of the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and gym owners on Tuesday. Article content Article content It was convened after super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, died days after brain surgery on injuries they sustained in separate bouts at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2. Article content The exact cause of the boxers' deaths is to be determined, but dehydration caused by cutting weight rapidly is regarded as a factor in making the brain more susceptible to bleeding, according to the World Boxing Association. Article content The deaths were 'really regrettable,' said JPBA president Shoji Kobayashi. 'We gathered today to establish a plan towards zero accidents.' Article content New measures to be implemented as soon as possible include urine tests for measuring dehydration and stricter rules on boxers' rapid weight loss, said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the JBC. Article content Ambulances will also be required on site, even for non-world championship bouts. They will partner with hospitals that are equipped to perform emergency surgery for head and other injuries. Article content Article content There will also be new rules on how long before a fight sparring must be stopped during training, he said. Article content Officials decided 'to take all measures possible so we do not let the deaths of the two be in vain,' Yasukochi added. Article content Kotari collapsed and later died after going 12 rounds in an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title fight. The JBC had already announced all future OPBF title bouts would be reduced to 10 rounds. Article content 'That such an incident occurred involving top-level boxers means we may face arguments that boxing should be halted,' admitted Toshiharu Kayama, former Japan welterweight champion and president of the boxing gym Ebisu K's Box. Article content 'We, the association and gyms, want to think and change' the way the sport is contested, Kayama said. Article content An accident investigation committee will work to find out the cause of the boxers' deaths later this month and guidance on prevention measures will be updated, Yasukochi said. Article content
France 24
2 days ago
- Health
- France 24
Japan boxing to hold emergency meeting following deaths
Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, fought on the same card at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2 and died days later following brain surgery. The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), gym owners and other boxing officials are under pressure to act and will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday. They are also expected to have talks about safety next month, local media said. "We are acutely aware of our responsibility as the manager of the sport," Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the JBC, told reporters on Sunday. "We will take whatever measures we can." Japanese media highlighted the risks of fighters dehydrating to lose weight rapidly before weigh-ins. "Dehydration makes the brain more susceptible to bleeding," the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said. That is one of the issues the JBC plans to discuss with trainers. "They want to hear from gym officials who work closely with the athletes about such items as weight loss methods and pre-bout conditioning, which may be causally related (to fatalities)," the Nikkan Sports newspaper said. In one immediate measure, the commission has decided to reduce all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title bouts to 10 rounds from 12. "The offensive power of Japanese boxing today is tremendous," Yasukochi was quoted by the Asahi Shimbun as telling reporters.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Japanese boxer Kotari dies after fight, aged 28
Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari, 28, died on Friday from injuries sustained during his bout with Yamato Hata on 2 super-featherweight was taken to hospital following the fight in Tokyo, where he had emergency brain surgery to treat a subdural hematoma - a condition where blood collects between the skull and the Japan Boxing Commission said Kotari was one of two fighters to require brain surgery following the event, with Hiromasa Urakawa undergoing a craniotomy following his bout with Yoji Saito. Sanctioning bodies the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) were among those to pay tribute to the boxer, who had a record of eight wins, two losses and two president Mauricio Sulaiman said: "Deeply sorry for this loss, a ring accident which makes all of us go back to continue research to find ways to make boxing safer and implement prevention programmes."Our deepest sympathy and condolences for his family and the boxing community in Japan."Following the 2 August event, the Japan Boxing Commission announced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will now be 10 rounds instead of fought to a draw with Hata for the OPBF super-featherweight title, while Urakawa was knocked out by Saito in their featherweight has been no update on Urakawa's is the second high-profile boxer to die in 2025 after Irishman John Cooney passed away in February following a fight in died aged 28 after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage from his fight against Welshman Nathan Howells.
