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.