Japan Boxing Commission president Hagiwara Minoru and secretary general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi held a press conference in Tokyo to address the deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari on Friday and Hiromasa Urakawa the following day.
Also hospitalized was Yamato Hata, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation 130-pound champion, who landed the blows that caused Kotari’s death in a 12-round draw.“We will begin working immediately on everything we can, including investigating and clarifying the cause and taking steps for the future. We want to move as quickly as possible,” said Hagiwara Minoru
While Yasukochi stressed the following: “What happened in the past few days is a very serious matter. How can we eliminate the risks inherent in the sport? We have received requests not only from our colleagues, but also from both inside and outside the country, saying that if there is anything we can do, we will do it. We want to work together with everyone to prevent a recurrence.”
First measures to reduce boxing risks in Japan
The Japanese Boxing Commission has already taken action. It announced that OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific title fights in Japan will be reduced from 12 to 10 rounds. According to reports, the JBC and the Japan Professional Boxing Association are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to consider further possible steps to protect boxers following the horrific events of August 2. In addition, a medical seminar has been scheduled for early next month.
Kotari, 28, collapsed after his fight with Hata. He underwent emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma – a build-up of blood in the brain – but did not survive. Urakawa, also 28, suffered the same injury in an eighth-round knockout loss to Yoji Saito. He died after undergoing a craniotomy. Secretary Yasukochi said officials will examine the impact of weight loss and other factors that could contribute to such injuries.
The probable reasons for Kotari and Urakawa’s death
The chairman of the commission indicated that weight loss was a likely important factor, and pre-fight preparation is only being looked at from an administrative perspective. “I would like to hear the opinions of those who are involved in the association and have worked closely with the athletes for a long time,” he said. He also added that penalties will be strengthened for boxers who violate weight gain limits after the official weigh-in, and that they will work with the association to make the rules more binding in the future.
The deaths of Kotari and Urakawa add to another death and a life-threatening injury in the past two years in Japan. Kazuki Anaguchi, 23, died approximately one month after losing by 10-round decision to Seiya Tsutsumi on December 26 in Tokyo. And Ginjiro Shigeoka remains in a coma after suffering a brain injury in a 12-round decision loss to Pedro Taduran for an IBF title on May 24 in Osaka.
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