Enhanced safety measures anticipated in Japanese boxing following the tragic losses of two athletes.
In the wake of the tragic deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, who passed away days after brain surgery on injuries sustained in separate bouts at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2, the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), and gym owners have taken decisive action.
An emergency meeting was held on Tuesday to establish a plan towards zero accidents, with JPBA president Shoji Kobayashi expressing his regret over the incidents. Toshiharu Kayama, a former Japan welterweight champion, also voiced concerns about arguments that boxing should be halted due to the incident.
The new safety measures include the introduction of urine tests to measure dehydration before bouts, aimed at preventing dangerous weight cutting practices. Stricter rules on weight loss will also be enforced to minimize dehydration risks that can make the brain more susceptible to injury.
A requirement for ambulances to be on-site for all bouts, even for non-world championship fights, has been implemented. These ambulances will partner with hospitals that are equipped to perform emergency surgery for head and other injuries.
To further reduce the risk of brain injuries, the JBC has announced that all future Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will be reduced from 12 rounds to 10 rounds.
In addition, new rules on how long before a fight sparring must be stopped during training will be implemented.
Officials have decided to take all necessary measures to prevent the deaths of the two boxers from happening again. A planned investigation into the deaths and updated guidance on preventive measures will be conducted by an accident investigation committee later this month.
A safety meeting involving doctors from the boxing commissions and amateur federations will also be held to discuss ongoing improvements.
These measures aim to enhance medical coverage and prevent dehydration-related brain injuries in boxing matches, directly responding to the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Kotari and Urakawa.
[1] Japan Today. (2025, August 4). Two boxers dead after bouts at Korakuen Hall. Retrieved from https://www.japantoday.com/sports/2025/08/04/two-boxers-dead-after-bouts-at-korakuen-hall
[2] The Mainichi. (2025, August 5). Boxers' deaths in Tokyo raise concerns over safety. Retrieved from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250805/p2g/00m/0na/020000c
[3] Kyodo News. (2025, August 6). Boxing deaths in Tokyo spur calls for safety reforms. Retrieved from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/08/357347e5870d-boxing-deaths-in-tokyo-spur-calls-for-safety-reforms.html
[4] Asahi Shimbun. (2025, August 7). Investigation launched into boxing deaths. Retrieved from https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASH1M77492779.html
In light of the tragic deaths of boxers in Tokyo, the emphasis on safety in Japanese boxing is expanding globally. Furthermore, the World Boxing Association (WBA) has expressed its support for the new safety measures implemented by the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), acknowledging Japan's proactive approach in reducing brain injuries and improving medical coverage in the world of sports.
