February 10, 2007
TOKYO, JAPAN
Koichi Wajima, ex-three time world junior middle champ, officially withdrew his candidature for the presidency of the JPBA (Japan Pro Boxing Association), the union of all the licensed managers in Japan, in Tokyo on Tuesday. Wajima previously announced to run for the JPBA presidency to terminate ex-world fly and bantam kingpin Masahiko (Fighting) Harada’s eighteen-year leadership. Wajima once mentioned that the boxers of his group would not fight those of Harada’s in the future, but such ridiculous situation will be avoided by senior club-owners’ persuasion to Wajima. The Japanese boxing fraternity will become united again though there is still a counterforce. Wajima said, “Like in boxing, you need courage in retreating as well as in going forward. I understand the boxing world should not be split.”
Yoko Gushiken, ex-WBA 108-pound champ having defended his belt thirteen times to his credit, also announced not to run for the presidency of the East-Japan department of the JPBA, yielding to Hideyuki Ohashi, ex-WBA/WBC 105-pound ruler.
Boxing depends on capitalism and democracy. The future plan of Wajima and Gushiken group never makes sense as they insist that all the promotional rights and TV rights should belong to the JPBA and the profits thereof would be equally distributed to the members. It was a very communistic idea. Should all the profits of Top Rank, Golden Boy Promotions, Don King Productions, etc. distributed equally to all big and small promoters, the boxing world might be in great disorder. Or, if big promoters should suffer red ink, will all other promoters equally cover that red ink? The idea of Wajima and Gushiken was far from realism and realization in the current boxing world.
(2-10-07)