Latest news with #JapanBoxingCommission
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Japan adopts stricter safety rules after deaths
Japanese boxing officials have voted to implement stricter rules on weight loss and to also introduce urine tests following the deaths of two fighters in Tokyo. Super-featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari, 28, and featherweight Hiromasa Urakawa, also 28, died after sustaining injuries in separate bouts on the same card on 2 August. Both boxers underwent surgery for subdural haematoma - a condition where blood collects between the skull and the brain. Following the event, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will now be 10 rounds instead of 12. The Japanese Professional Boxing Association (JPBA), the JBC and gym owners met to discuss the emergency measures on Tuesday. They voted to include urine tests to measure dehydration and agreed that ambulances will be required on site, even for non-world title bouts. Hospitals will partner with the governing bodies to ensure they are equipped to perform emergency surgery for head and other injuries. Fighters will also have to adhere to new rules on how long they must stop sparring during training before a fight. "Officials have decided to take all possible measures to ensure that the deaths of these two boxers are not in vain," Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary general of the JBC, said. Yasukochi said an accident investigation committee will work to find out the cause of the boxers' deaths later in August before updating their guidance on prevention measures. The JBC and JPBA are also scheduled to meet with the organisations' doctors and the amateur boxing federation. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More boxing from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
Japan Today
a day ago
- Sport
- Japan Today
Japan boxing officials to hold emergency meeting following deaths
File picture of a trainer lacing up the gloves of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao Japanese boxing officials will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday as the sport in the country faces intense scrutiny following the deaths of two fighters in separate bouts at the same event. 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. "We have more and more boxers who are able to start exchanges of fierce blows from the first round. Maybe 12 rounds can be dangerous." © 2025 AFP
eNCA
2 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Japan boxing to hold emergency meeting following deaths
TOKYO - Japanese boxing officials will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday as the sport in the country faces intense scrutiny following the deaths of two fighters in separate bouts at the same event. 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.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Explained: How brain injury deaths of two boxers could change landscape of Japanese boxing
The unfortunate brain injury deaths of Japanese boxers Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa could prompt sweeping rule changes, with the Japan Boxing Commission under pressure to act read more Japanese boxers Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa's death due to brain injuries has led to an emergency meeting regarding fight protocols. Images: Shigetoshi Kotari on Instagram/World Boxing Org A massive boxing controversy has broken out in Japan after two fighters lost their lives in separate bouts at the same event. Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, lost their lives recently after fighting on the same card at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on 2 August. Both Kotari and Urakawa suffered brain injuries during their respective fights and died days later following brain surgery. Their deaths were confirmed by the World Boxing Federation on Saturday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Japanese boxers died to due to brain injuries The unfortunate deaths have sparked a huge furore in the country as fans and media question the safety regulations around boxing matches in Japan. The duration of fights and ringside medical protocols has come under immense scrutiny. Kotari collapsed after competing in a difficult 12-round tie boxing match against junior lightweight champion Yamato Hata. He underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma, which is also known as a brain hemorrhage, but died on Friday. The subdural hematoma is a life-threatening condition where blood collects between the brain's surface and its outer covering, the dura mater. Urakawa died on Saturday after undergoing a craniotomy following his knockout defeat to eighth and final round loss to Yoji Saito. He had suffered similar brain injuries to Kotari. As per World Boxing, Kotari's demise was directly linked to the injuries he suffered during the match. Boxing stakeholders under immense scrutiny in Japan The recent deaths have shocked the Japanese community, increasing pressure on the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), gym owners and major boxing officials to make changes to the fight and medical protocols. The major stakeholders will be holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday. '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.' As per the Japanese media, the dehydration among boxers caused by their efforts to lose weight before weigh-ins has led to disastrous results. 'Dehydration makes the brain more susceptible to bleeding,' the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said. This is something that will reportedly be discussed during the meeting. '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. As an immediate measure, the Japan Boxing Commission has reduced Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title bouts to 10 rounds from 12, considering the increase in the aggressive style of fighting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But with growing discontent among fans and people of Japan, sweeping changes related to match and medical protocols cannot be ruled out.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Japan boxing to hold emergency meeting following fighters' deaths
Japanese boxing officials will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday as the sport in the country faces intense scrutiny following the deaths of two fighters in separate bouts at the same event. 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 deaths),' 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. 'We have more and more boxers who are able to start exchanges of fierce blows from the first round. Maybe 12 rounds can be dangerous.'
