Japanese boxing officials announced on Tuesday that they will introduce urine tests, enforce stricter weight-loss regulations to prevent dehydration, and enhance medical cover at bouts, following the deaths of two fighters.
The Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), and gym owners adopted the measures during an emergency meeting held the same day.
The meeting followed the deaths of super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both aged 28, who died days after undergoing brain surgery for injuries sustained in separate bouts at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on 2 August.
Although the exact causes of death remain under investigation, the World Boxing Association notes that rapid weight-cutting and resulting dehydration can make the brain more vulnerable to bleeding.
“These deaths are truly regrettable,” said JPBA president Shoji Kobayashi. “We gathered today to create a plan aimed at achieving zero accidents.”
JBC secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi said the new rules—set to take effect as soon as possible—will include urine tests to check dehydration levels, tighter controls on rapid weight loss, and the requirement for ambulances to be present at all bouts, including non-title fights. Officials will also partner with hospitals capable of performing emergency surgery for head and other serious injuries.
He added that there will be fresh regulations on when sparring must stop before a fight during training.
Officials vowed to “take all possible measures so we do not let the deaths of the two be in vain,” Yasukochi stated.
Kotari collapsed after going 12 rounds in an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fight. The JBC has since reduced all future OPBF title bouts from 12 rounds to 10.
“That such an incident occurred with top-level boxers could prompt calls to halt the sport,” acknowledged Toshiharu Kayama, former Japan welterweight champion and president of Ebisu K’s Box gym. “We, the association and gyms, need to think and change how boxing is conducted.”
An accident investigation committee will review the cases later this month, with updated prevention guidelines to follow. The JBC and JPBA will also convene a safety meeting involving doctors from both bodies and the amateur boxing federation.