The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) has announced a series of stringent safety measures following the deaths of two boxers who competed on the same card earlier this month. Shigetoshi Kotari, 28, and Hiromasa Urakawa, also 28, died from brain injuries days after their bouts at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on 2 August.
Kotari, a super featherweight, collapsed and later died after emergency brain surgery for a subdural haematoma following his 12-round Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fight. Urakawa, a lightweight, died at the weekend from injuries sustained in his bout. Both fighters had relatively short professional careers, with 14 and 12 bouts respectively.
The new measures include pre-bout urine tests to check hydration levels, stricter rules on rapid weight loss, and enhanced ringside medical services. Fighters who regain more than 10% of their bodyweight between weigh-in and the bout will be moved up a weight class for their next contest. Ambulances will now be stationed at all fights, paired with hospitals capable of emergency brain surgery, a requirement previously only for world-title bouts.
JBC Secretary General Tsuyoshi Yasukochi stated, 'Officials have decided to take all possible measures to ensure that the deaths of these two boxers are not in vain.' Shoji Kobayashi, president of the Japanese Pro Boxing Association, added that new rules on sparring cessation before fights would also be introduced.
The deaths have intensified scrutiny on Japanese boxing, following the 2024 death of bantamweight Kazuki Anaguchi and the retirement of Ginjiro Shigeoka after emergency brain surgery. Toshiharu Kayama, a former welterweight champion, expressed concern that the incidents could reignite calls to ban the sport.
