After the death of two boxers in fighting in Tokyo, the Japanese association has announced extensive security measures. In the future, urine tests to control dehydration, stricter rules for weight reduction and better medical care will be introduced at events.
The measures were decided at a crisis meeting of the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and GYM operators.
The occasion was the death of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa (both 28), who had suffered serious head injuries on separate fights and died a few days later after brain surgery.
The exact cause of death is unclear. According to the world boxing organization, dehydration as a result of rapid weight loss can make the brain more susceptible to bleeding and cause an enormous health risk.
“The incidents are really unfortunate,” said JPBA President Shoji Kobayashi. “We came together today to draw up a plan for zero accidents.” JBC general secretary Tsuyoshi Yasukochi said that it is about “taking all possible measures so that the death of the two was not for nothing”.
Japan’s ex-world weight Toshiharu Kayama was also affected: “The fact that something like this happens to top boxers will lead to demands to consider boxing. We have to rethink and change sports.”