June 26, 2008
TOKYO, JAPAN
A medical seminar was held by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA, the union of managers) on Wednesday at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. It took place following a Japan-based Chinese boxer Cho Hefs passing after a ring tragedy on May 18. Some one hundred managers and trainers were in attendance to listen to the lectures by the JBC doctors.
(1) Dr. Yuichiro Nonaka showed a video of the ill-fated Chofs last fight on May 3 and other examples, and explained a symptom and structure of brain injuries. Cho scored a knockdown in the first round and fought a competitive battle before he abruptly became groggy in the sixth and last session, when the referee called a halt even though he didnft hit the deck. Cho then fell prone with the legs paralyzed trembling. He was immediately carried to the Jikei Medical University hospital (which Dr. Nonaka belongs to), and the skull was opened to remove blood clots and brain pressure. Cho was pronounced brain-dead though living on for about a week before passing away.
The doctor extensively showed the data that there were 963 licensed professional boxers who fought 862 bouts in 1986, while now we now have 3,089 fighters licensed that battled 2,360 games in 2007. There happened 81 cases of brain injuries since 1986. In average, we have had 1.3 cases thereof per 1,000 fights between 1986 and 2008. Out of that, there took place 0.38 cases of ring deaths caused by the brain injuries per 1,000 bouts during the same period.
(2) Another lecturer, JBCfs brain surgeon Dr. Joji Otsuki of the same medical university suggested that the shorter the length of a fight becomes, the more the risk of brain injuries occurring may decrease. He proposed an idea that the JBC may make strict the qualifications of the respective licenses of boxers between the C-class (allowed up to a 4-round bout), B-class (allowed up to a 6-round bout) and A-class (allowed over an 8-round-or-more bout).
(3) Hajime Miyazawa, a physical therapist as well as a trainer of Takasaki Gym, reported external wounds that boxers of his gym have actually suffered through training and fighting. They are as follows: hand/finger fractures, bone-deformation, dislocation of shoulder joint, arthritis, heatstroke, heat convulsions, and others. His explanation was well-detailed based on his experience as trainer and his knowledge at hospital.
(4) Masakazu Uchida, the chief inspector of the JBC and formerly first-class referee, informed that the JBC would revise the rule book for adjusting current problems. For example, a use of contact lenses should be forbidden in a fight; a laser operation of corrected eyesight should not be recommended for a boxer to fight therewith; JBC-licensed cornermen should not work the corner in such other martial arts as MMA, etc.
This reporter highly evaluates the latest innovations of the JBC since Tsuyoshi Yasukochi took over the post of the commissionfs executive secretary years ago. He recently decided to regularly have a medical seminar to professional boxers themselves quarterly. The boxers, outside of the gyms, have to protect and take care of themselves according to proper medical knowledge. They should refrain from reducing the weight so drastically as to be dehydrated, drinking alcoholic beverage after suffering damage to the brain caused by sparring or fighting, sparring at gym when not in a good mental/physical condition, et al.
Yours truly made a humble induction speech on the future of boxing in Canastota on June 8, saying as follows:
gToday, we have to respect safety over drama or thrill. We should accept it. Boxing must continue to change with the times to survive in the modern world. I believe boxers of today are faster, better trained, and more skilled than those of the past. I can say that as a historian and a film collector. This continued evolution in boxing technique, coupled with improvements in ring safety, will keep boxing alive forever.h
Apparently and admirably is the JBC changing to pursue the safety of boxing more positively than previously.
(6-26-08)