The Japan boxing commission announces stricter security rules after the death of Hiromasa Urakawa and Shigetoshi Kotari | Boxing news

Japanese boxing officials have announced more stringent rules on weight loss and introduced urine tests after the death of two boxers in the same event earlier this month.

Hiromasa Urakawa and Shigetoshi Kotari died in separate fights on August 2 in Tokyo.

The two boxers have undergone surgery for an underdural hematoma – a condition where the blood accumulates between the skull and the brain.

The exact reason for the death of the two fighters has not yet been confirmed, but dehydration caused by a rapid weight cut is considered a factor to make the brain more sensitive to bleeding, according to the World Boxing Association.

The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced that any eastern and Pacific Boxing (OPBF) federation had already announced that title fights will be 10 rounds instead of 12.

They have now voted to introduce urine tests to measure dehydration, as well as a requirement for ambulances to be on site for all fights and hospitals are ready to make an emergency surgery for the head and other injuries.

“The officials have decided to take all possible measures to ensure that the death of these two boxers is not in vain,” said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary general of the Japanese boxing commission.

Yasukochi also said that a survey on boxing deaths will take place later this month and that the prevention measures will be updated.

A security meeting will also take place which will include the doctors of the Japanese boxing commissions and the amateur boxing federations.