Japanese boxing officials are to hold an emergency meeting today as the sport in the nation faces intense scrutiny following the deaths of two fighters in separate bouts at the same event.
Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, fought on the same card at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on Aug. 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 are to hold an emergency meeting today.
“We are acutely aware of our responsibility as the manager of the sport,” JBC secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi told reporters on Sunday. “We will take whatever measures we can.”
Japanese media have highlighted the risks of fighters dehydrating to lose weight rapidly before weigh-ins.
“Dehydration makes the brain more susceptible to bleeding,” the Asahi Shimbun said.
“They want to hear from gym officials who work closely with the athletes about such items as weight-loss methods and prebout conditioning, which may be causally related [to fatalities],” the Nikkan Sports 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.”
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