Boxing in Japan

The first exhibition match named {{Nihongo|Western Professional Sumo|西洋大相撲}} was held in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1887. The first boxing gym {{Nihongo|Meriken Training Institute|メリケン練習所}} was established in Ishikawachō, Yokohama, Kanagawa by {{Nihongo|James Hōjō|ジェームス 北條}} and {{Nihongo|Toranosuke Saitō|齋藤 虎之助}} in 1896. After the first tutorial book, {{Nihongo|Bōgeki Jizai Seiyō Kentōjutsu|防撃自在西洋拳闘術}} was issued in 1900, followed shortly by {{Nihongo|International Jūken Club|国際柔拳倶楽部}} was opened in Mikage, Kobe by Kenji Kanō in 1909.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=66}}{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|p=40}}

File:Sadayuki Ogino (1901–1970).jpg

After learning boxing in San Francisco, California, since 1906, {{nihongo|{{ill|Yujiro Watanabe|ja|渡辺勇次郎}}|渡辺勇次郎|Yūjirō Watanabe|extra=aka Father of Japanese Boxing or Four-Round King}} established {{Nihongo|Nippon Kentō Club|日本拳闘倶楽部}} in Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo, on December 25, 1921.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=66}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.jbc.or.jp/info/howtobox/history.html|script-title=ja:ボクシングの歴史 – 第4章|publisher=Japan Boxing Commission|language=Japanese|access-date=March 16, 2011}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Resultado_2/Matsuda_empat_con_Umetsu_en_el_Korakuen.php|title=¡Matsuda empató con Umetsu en el Korakuen!|author=Hisao Adachi|date=February 21, 2009|publisher=NotiFight.com|language=Spanish|access-date=March 16, 2011|archive-date=July 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714200917/http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Resultado_2/Matsuda_empat_con_Umetsu_en_el_Korakuen.php|url-status=dead}} {{nihongo|{{ill|Sadayuki Ogino|ja|荻野貞行}}|荻野貞行|extra=also known as father of Japanese Boxing}} from Rikkyo University began boxing under Watanabe's management.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=242}} Ogino in the junior featherweight and {{Nihongo|Kinzaburō Yokoyama|横山 金三郎}} in the featherweight were recognized as the first Japanese champions by Nippon Kentō Club in 1922.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=66}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Fuji Okamoto (Baseball Magazine Sha).jpg

| caption1 = Fuji Okamoto (1905–1984)

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| caption2 = Kintarō Usuda (1906–1980)

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In the first Japanese title matches for professional boxers held in April 1924, Fuji Okamoto in the flyweight division and Kintarō Usuda in the lightweight division became titleholders.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=66}} There was no clear distinction between amateur and professional around that time.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=172}}

Simultaneously with {{Nihongo|National Student Kentō Federation|全国学生拳闘連盟}} whose president was Yūjirō Watanabe, the {{Nihongo|All-Japan Amateur Federation|全日本アマチュア連盟}} was established in July 1926.

The first Japanese championships for amateur boxers was held by Kenji Kanō's {{Nihongo|Dai Nippon Kentōkai|大日本拳闘会}} in 1927. Fuji Okamoto in the bantamweight division and Kintarō Usuda in the welterweight division participated in the 1928 Summer Olympics.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=66}}

File:Tsuneo Horiguchi.jpg

{{Nihongo|All-Japan Professional Kentō Association|全日本プロフェッショナル拳闘協会}} was founded in February 1931 in order to perform the establishment of championships and the development of professional boxers, repeated division and dissolution to become the current Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA).{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=67}}{{Cite web|url=http://jpba.gr.jp/history/origin/origin_04.html|script-title=ja:ボクシングの伝来と協会の歴史 – 第四章 ジム創設ラッシュと拳闘協会発足|year=2008|publisher=Japan Pro Boxing Association|language=Japanese|access-date=March 16, 2011}}{{Cite web|url=http://jpba.gr.jp/history/origin/origin_05.html|script-title=ja:ボクシングの伝来と協会の歴史 – 第五章 分裂、コミッション設立、解散、再編|year=2008|publisher=Japan Pro Boxing Association|language=Japanese|access-date=March 16, 2011}} {{nihongo|{{ill|Tsuneo Horiguchi|ja|ピストン堀口}}|堀口 恒男|extra=aka Piston Horiguchi, Saint Fist; 拳聖}} from Waseda University{{Cite news|script-title=ja:復校祈り英国遠征 早大ボクシング部慈善試合|url=http://www.sanspo.com/fight/news/111030/fgb1110301059002-n1.htm|publisher=Sankei Sports|date=October 30, 2011|access-date=October 30, 2011|language=Japanese|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102044105/http://www.sanspo.com/fight/news/111030/fgb1110301059002-n1.htm|archive-date=November 2, 2011}} gained popularity and played an active part in those days.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|pp=40–41}}{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=67}} Although Japan's boxing was interrupted by the Pacific War, the first Japanese championships after the war was held in 1947.

File:Yoshio Shirai (04) wmplayer 2013-07-10.jpg

Then the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), virtually the only governing body of Japan's professional boxing, was founded in order to prepare Yoshio Shirai's world title match. Its establishment was presented at the Tokyo Kaikan on April 21, 1952. {{Nihongo|Munehide Tanabe|田邊 宗英|extra=often written as 田辺 宗英}} from Waseda University who was the founding president of Teiken Boxing Gym and the president of the Korakuen Stadium, was elected as its first commissioner.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|p=286}}

Shirai defeated lineal champion Dado Marino via a unanimous decision in the flyweight division on May 19 of that year, while being watched by 45,000 spectators at the Korakuen Stadium,{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|p=291}} to become the Japan's first world champion.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/fly.htm|title=Yoshio Shirai - Lineal Flyweight Champion|publisher=The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia}}{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|p=78}}

The JBC joined the NBA (the current WBA) on January 7, 1954.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002|p=286}} They also joined the WBC since the rematch of Johnny Famechon vs. Fighting Harada on May 9, 1970.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxing.jp/cgi/column/ashizawa/column.cgi?mode=view&no=44|script-title=ja:酔いどれ芦沢記者の「想い出の名勝負」ジョニー・ファメション－ファイティング原田|author=Seiichi Ashizawa|date=July 8, 2005|publisher=boxing.jp|language=Japanese|access-date=April 17, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202055242/http://www.boxing.jp/cgi/column/ashizawa/column.cgi?mode=view&no=44|archive-date=February 2, 2013}}{{#Tag:ref|The WBC championships in Japan have always been sanctioned under the WBC's open scoring system{{Cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/wbc-makes-pitch-for-open-scoring-108830|title=WBC makes pitch for open scoring|date=February 24, 2012|publisher=Fightnews.com|access-date=April 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329215832/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/wbc-makes-pitch-for-open-scoring-108830|archive-date=March 29, 2012|url-status=dead}} since the world title doubleheader featuring Hozumi Hasegawa and Eagle Kyowa in November 13, 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=2689757|title=Merits of open scoring a split decision of sorts|author=Dan Rafael|date=December 7, 2006|publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 17, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2006-11-16-notes_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA|title=With new rule, boxers will know the score|author=Chuck Johnson|date=November 16, 2006|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=April 17, 2012}}|group="*"}}

File:Boxing Magazine first issue.jpg

In June 1956, Boxing Magazine, the Japan's oldest surviving boxing journal, was launched by the Baseball Magazine Company. Currently there is only one other monthly boxing journal in Japan, called Boxing Beat. This has been renamed twice from World Boxing since 1968.{{cite news|script-title=ja:専門誌ボクシング・ワールド6月号で休刊|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20090516-495009.html|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=May 16, 2009|access-date=April 17, 2012|language=Japanese}}

File:Nobuhiro Ishida cropped.jpg

Traditionally, the different bodies of amateur and professional boxers had had no exchanges. However, they decided in 2011 to cooperate with each other, beginning with joint training.{{Cite web|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.jp/2011/05/blog-post_30.html|script-title=ja:元プロ経験者のアマ資格認める 日連が画期的決定|date=May 30, 2011|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=April 17, 2012}}{{Cite web|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.jp/2010/08/blog-post_1768.html|script-title=ja:プロ－アマ雪解け? 首脳同士が歴史的握手|date=August 30, 2010|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=April 17, 2012}}

From 2011 through 2012, the middleweight boxers had record-breaking performances both in amateur and professional boxing. Nobuhiro Ishida knocked out the previously undefeated James Kirkland at the MGM Grand Las Vegas to be awarded The Ring Upset of the Year.{{Sfn|Jake Donovan|2012|p=44}} Ryōta Murata secured the silver medal in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{Sfn|Fitness Sports|2011|p=109}} Tadashi Yuba won his fifth Japanese title in four different weight divisions to be a quadruple champion.{{Sfn|Fitness Sports|2012|p=29}} All those are the first records for Japan. In August 2013, Yuba picked up the Japanese super welterweight title to be a quintuple champion.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/yuba-acquires-fifth-japanese-national-belt-218900|title=Yuba acquires fifth Japanese national belt|author=Joe Koizumi|date=August 13, 2013|publisher=Fightnews.com|access-date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215700/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/yuba-acquires-fifth-japanese-national-belt-218900|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Most of the world championship fights have been televised mainly on Nittere (NTV),{{Cite web|url=http://www.ntv.co.jp/wpboxing/|script-title=ja:ワールドプレミアムボクシング|publisher=Nippon TV|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013}} TBS,{{Cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/sports/boxing/|title=TBS「BOXING」|publisher=TBS|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013}} Fuji TV,{{Cite web|url=http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/diamond/index.html|script-title=ja:ダイヤモンドグローブ|publisher=Fuji TV|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013}} and TV Tokyo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/sports/boxing/|script-title=ja:テレビ東京ボクシングオフィシャルサイト|publisher=TV Tokyo|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509045030/http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/sports/boxing/|archive-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=dead}} Currently, these programs can be legally watched outside Japan via KeyHoleTV. In addition, pay-TV channels such as WOWOW{{Cite web|url=http://www.wowow.co.jp/sports/excite/|script-title=ja:ボクシング「エキサイトマッチ」|publisher=WOWOW|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013}} and sky-A sports+{{Cite web|url=http://www.sky-a.co.jp/prgsports/martialarts.html|title=スカイ・A sports+ 格闘技|publisher=sky-A sports+|language=Japanese|access-date=February 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608031135/http://www.sky-a.co.jp/prgsports/martialarts.html|archive-date=June 8, 2013|url-status=dead}} have provided boxing programs. Although Fuji TV had been withdrawn from boxing except for the late-night show since Yūji Watanabe lost to Genaro Hernández in 1992, they resumed a live boxing program in prime time from April 2013.{{Cite news|script-title=ja:井上、フジテレビ21年ぶりゴールデン生中継|author=Takashi Itō|url=http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20130209/box13020911510001-n1.html|publisher=Sankei Sports|date=February 9, 2013|pages=1–3|access-date=February 9, 2013|language=Japanese|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212010348/http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20130209/box13020911510001-n1.html|archive-date=February 12, 2013}}

{{See also|Sports broadcasting contracts in Japan#Boxing}}

The Summer Olympics medalists are:

The World Championships medalists are:

File:Kyotaro Fujimoto.jpg. Retained OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight titles in May 2018.]]

In Japan, every professional boxer must contract with a manager under the JBC rules,{{Cite web|url=http://j-boxwest.com/report/rule_1.html|title=JBC rules – Part 1|publisher=West Japan Boxing Association|language=Japanese|access-date=March 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104002039/http://j-boxwest.com/report/rule_1.html|archive-date=November 4, 2010}} and is required to belong to a boxing gym which has exclusive management rights for boxers as a member of each regional subsidiary body of Japan Pro Boxing Association under the Japan's conventional gym system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jbc.or.jp/info/howtobox/question.html#q_01|title=Q and A – Question 1|publisher=Japan Boxing Commission|language=Japanese|access-date=March 31, 2011|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110051441/https://www.jbc.or.jp/info/howtobox/question.html#q_01|url-status=dead}} Two professional boxers belonging to the same gym have not been allowed to fight against each other unless one of them transfers to other gym, because it might disrupt the gym system.{{cite news|title=坂田 vs 興毅の元同門対決今夏にも実現へ|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp1-20080514-359653.html|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|date=May 14, 2008}} However, it is often quite difficult for boxers to transfer between the gyms due to the matters on transfer fees, match fees and so on.{{Harvnb|Asazawa|Shibuya|2007|p=61}}

The JBC set up the Japanese heavyweight title once in 1957, but that division did not last long because there were few heavyweight boxers in Japan at that time. Therefore, they have recognized the titles and ratings only in thirteen weight divisions from minimumweight to middleweight for over fifty years. They added four weight divisions i.e. super middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight, from September 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_24.html|title=日本にS・ミドル級超ランキング設置|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|date=September 24, 2009|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=March 21, 2011}} Kyōtarō Fujimoto was crowned the heavyweight champion in July 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/fujimoto-acquires-first-japanese-heavy-belt-in-56-years-215359|title=Fujimoto acquires first Japanese heavy belt in 56 years|author=Joe Koizumi|date=July 26, 2013|publisher=Fightnews.com|access-date=November 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020149/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/fujimoto-acquires-first-japanese-heavy-belt-in-56-years-215359|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}

File:Korakuen Hall.jpg in Tokyo]]

Currently, Japan has two major annual tournaments. One is the {{Nihongo|All-Japan Rookie King|全日本新人王|Zen-Nihon shinjin'ō}} Tournament which came to be known by the popular anime/manga series Hajime no Ippo,{{#Tag:ref|In the All-Japan Rookie King Tournament, a boxer who unified rookie king titles of the {{Nihongo|West Japan|西日本|Nishinihon}}, {{Nihongo|Central Japan|中日本|Nakanihon}} and {{Nihongo|Western part of Japan|西部日本|Seibu-Nihon}} is promoted to the {{Nihongo|West representative|西軍代表|Seigun daihyō}} and confronts the East Japan rookie king who is also the {{Nihongo|East representative|東軍代表|Tōgun daihyō}} at the same time in order to decide the winner of the tournament. The West Japan rookie king can not fight against the East Japan rookie king unless he unifies all those three titles.{{Cite web|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.jp/2009/09/blog-post_27.html|script-title=ja:西部－西日本新人王対抗戦結果|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|date=September 27, 2009|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=March 30, 2012}} To be exact, what is depicted as the West Japan rookie king in Hajime no Ippo ought to be the West representative.|group="*"}} and the other is the Japanese Title Elimination Tournament nicknamed {{Nihongo|The Strongest in Korakuen|最強後楽園|Saikyō Kōrakuen||extra=former Class A Tournament}}, which is competed by "class A boxers" who have acquired a "class A license" to fight in eight or more round bouts, and whose winners would be recognized as the next mandatory challengers against each divisional Japanese champion in the annual mandatory bout series Champion Carnival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jbc.or.jp/rls/2008/0603.html|script-title=ja:『「最強後楽園」日本タイトル挑戦権獲得トーナメント』開催|date=June 3, 2008|publisher=Japan Boxing Commission|language=Japanese|access-date=March 16, 2011}} In addition to those, there are several other tournaments, such as Raging Battle (renamed from B:Tight!).{{Cite web|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.jp/2009/06/blog-post_1517.html|script-title=ja:高額賞金戦 "レイジングバトル" 8月開催|date=June 29, 2009|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=April 18, 2012}}

As of Feb 2022, Japan produced 85 male world champions and 23 female world champions.{{Cite web|url=http://jpba.gr.jp/archive/champion_archives.html|title=World champion archives|year=2012|publisher=Japan Pro Boxing Association|language=Japanese|access-date=March 9, 2013}} When Yōta Satō won the world title to be the twelfth world champion managed by Kyoei Boxing Gym in March 2012, Japan had had nine world champions at the same time including an "emeritus champion" and a "champion in recess".{{Cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/sato-suriyan-full-report-111403|title=Sato-Suriyan: Full Report|author=Joe Koizumi|date=March 28, 2012|publisher=Fightnews.com|access-date=March 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331230043/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/sato-suriyan-full-report-111403|archive-date=March 31, 2012|url-status=dead}} Although nine boxers except non-Japanese nationals and females were crowned world champions across the sea,{{cite news|url=http://www5.nikkansports.com/battle/hara/archives/20100602_96090.html|script-title=ja:日本人の海外挑戦30連敗|author=Isao Hara|date=June 2, 2010|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=November 9, 2011}} it is in contrast to the status of boxing in the Philippines where 31 of 40 world champions won the title abroad as of April 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Category:Filipino_World_Champions|title=Category:Filipino World Champions - BoxRec|website=boxrec.com|access-date=2016-03-31}}{{Sfn|Shigeru Masuda|2007|p=55}} Katsunari Takayama fighting out of the ALA Boxing Gym of Cebu City has won the IBF title in 2013,{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2013/04/02/takayama-gives-ala-third-world-title-275497|title=Takayama gives ALA third world title|author=Edri K. Aznar|date=April 2, 2013|publisher=Sun.Star Cebu|access-date=May 25, 2013}} after resigning his JBC license in 2009 in order to compete for the IBF or the WBO title outside Japan.{{cite news|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20091118-567213.html|script-title=ja:引退届の高山が海外での世界挑戦を希望|date=June 2, 2010|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|language=Japanese|access-date=November 18, 2009}}

File:Daisuke Naitō, Nov. 2009.jpg Naitō in 2009]]

Japan's male world champions rarely risk their titles outside of their country. Apart from non-Japanese nationals, the thirteen champions did it, and the only four among them successfully defended their titles.{{cite news|script-title=ja:ボクシング・西岡、本場ラスベガスで王者のファイト|author=Daisuke Yamaguchi|url=http://www.nikkei.com/sports/column/article/g=96958A88889DE1E7E3E7E1E0E0E2E0EAE2EBE0E2E3E3E2E2E2E2E2E2;df=2;p=9694E3E0E2E6E0E2E3E2EAEAE2E2|newspaper=Nihon Keizai Shimbun|date=September 30, 2011|page=2|access-date=October 6, 2011|language=Japanese}} That is because Japan's professional boxing has given priority to holding the fights in their own country to get paid television broadcast rights fees.{{Cite web|url=http://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/11978|script-title=ja:西岡の海外防衛戦が示すボクシング界の台所事情。〜海を渡る日本人王者の時代〜|author=Makoto Maeda|date=June 16, 2009|publisher=Number (Bungeishunjū)|language=Japanese|access-date=October 6, 2011}} Consequently, Japan's champions still remain internationally unrecognized. The broadcast rights fees have decreased under the economic downturn.

File:Number of Japan's male world champions in boxing.png who became the IBF champion before April 1, 2013, and Kōki Etō who won the interim title since February 28, 2011, are not officially recognized as Japan's champions, but are included here.]]

Japanese boxers have very low recognition in the United States, as cable networks are generally unconcerned with the lower weight classes to which most of the Japanese boxers belong. In April 2012, The Ring's Doug Fischer outlined the following three basic conditions that are required for Japan's boxing in order to earn international recognition:

{{Quotation|text=

1. The Japanese commission needs to recognize the WBO and the IBF.
2. Japan's top promoters need to bring in more world-class fighters from outside of Asia to challenge their fighters.
3. The Japanese titleholders need to fight each other.

|author=Doug Fischer|title=Dougie's Friday mailbag|source=RingTV.com{{Cite web|url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172241-dougies-friday-mailbag|title=Dougie's Friday mailbag|author=Doug Fischer|date=April 6, 2012|publisher=RingTV.com|access-date=April 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408221546/http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/172241-dougies-friday-mailbag|archive-date=2012-04-08|url-status=dead}}}}

The fight between the WBC's Kazuto Ioka and the WBA's Akira Yaegashi in June 2012 was the first-ever world title unification match for Japan's world champions. The president of Japan Pro Boxing Association Hideyuki Ohashi mentioned that it could be a healthy sign for the future of Japan's boxing.{{cite news|script-title=ja:ミニマム級日本人2王者が会見|author=Kazufumi Nomura|url=http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20120410k0000m050023000c.html|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|date=April 9, 2012|access-date=April 9, 2012|language=Japanese|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409172545/http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20120410k0000m050023000c.html|archive-date=April 9, 2012}} Prior to that, there have been two attempts to unify the world titles. However, in the fight between the WBA's Jirō Watanabe and the WBC's Payao Poontarat, Watanabe was stripped of his WBA title before the fight since he participated in that bout under the WBC rules without being sanctioned by the WBA. The chairman of the WBA's championship committee Elias Cordova had warned on the day of the fight stating that "The minute he steps into the ring Watanabe will be stripped of his title."{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8mMeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5725,1444175|title=Champions confident|date=July 5, 1984|newspaper=Times Daily|page=8B|access-date=April 14, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YcciAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_2gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6447,317721|title=Coetzee May Lose Title|author=AP|author-link=Associated Press|date=June 26, 1984|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|page=4C|access-date=April 14, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=16692|title=Mijares vs. Darchinyan: The Pre-Fight Report Card|author=Cliff Rold|date=October 31, 2012|publisher=BoxingScene.com|access-date=April 14, 2012}} In the fight between the WBC's Hozumi Hasegawa and the WBO's Fernando Montiel, Montiel's WBO title was not at stake{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=27326|title=WBC vs. WBO Rift Over Hasegawa-Montiel Involvement|author=Ronnie Nathanielsz|date=April 29, 2010|publisher=BoxingScene.com|access-date=April 14, 2012}} because the JBC had recognized only the WBA, WBC and its co-founder OPBF{{Cite web|url=http://www.opbf.jp/|title=Welcome to the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation website|year=2013|publisher=OPBF|access-date=March 10, 2013}} as legitimate governing organizations sanctioning championship bouts and had not allowed their boxers to fight for the other organizations' titles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=36256|title=Koki Kameda I'll Fight Nonito Donaire at Anytime!|author=Kazuto Harada|date=February 22, 2011|publisher=BoxingScene.com|access-date=March 31, 2011}}

On February 28, 2011, the JBC permitted them only when a Japan's reigning world titleholder of the WBA and/or WBC was going to fight in a title unification match against a world champion of the WBO and/or IBF. However, at that time, even if a Japan's champion won, he had to vacate the newer WBO and/or IBF title after a fixed period, and a defense match for the newer title was not authorized.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jbc.or.jp/rls/2011/0309.html|script-title=ja:委員長会議報告書|date=March 9, 2011|publisher=Japan Boxing Commission|language=Japanese|access-date=April 14, 2012}}

The JBC announced that they would join the WBO and the IBF on April 1, 2013. Although they still do not recognize the international title and regional titles, the JBC decided to allow their boxers to fight for any world titles of the four major sanctioning bodies.{{Cite web|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.jp/2013/02/blog-post_692.html|title=WBO承認加盟会見 4月1日からIBFも|date=February 18, 2013|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=February 19, 2013}}{{Cite web|author=Ronnie Nathanielsz|url=http://philboxing.com/news/story-80499.html|title=Japan at long last recognizes the WBO|date=February 17, 2013|publisher=PhilBoxing.com|access-date=February 19, 2013}}

File:Number of fatalities in Japan's boxing.png for more than one year after the fatal fight are counted in the year the fight happened.]]

From 1950 through 2011, Tokyo was the city with the most boxing fatalities in the world.{{Cite web|url=http://ejmas.com/jcs/velazquez/Death_Under_the_Spotlight_2011_Final.pdf|title=Death under the Spotlight: The Manuel Velazquez Collection, 2011 – Table 9: Cities reporting six or more boxing deaths, 1950-2011|author=Joseph R. Svinth|date=October 2011|publisher=EJMAS|page=15|access-date=March 8, 2013}} After the JBC's inception in April 1952, thirty-eight Japanese professional boxers died from fight injuries.{{Cite web|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|url=http://boxingnewsboxon.blogspot.com/2010/02/37.html|title=八巻裕一選手死亡 JBC設立後37例目の犠牲者|date=February 23, 2010|publisher=MACC Publications Inc|language=Japanese|access-date=March 8, 2013}} In 1973, one boxer among them died after an eighth-round knockout loss in a super featherweight ten-round bout in Agana, Guam.{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=63BLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5iMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3846,4720882|title=Japanese Boxer Dies 18 Hours After Collapsing|date=January 28, 1973|newspaper=The Press-Courier|page=20|access-date=March 9, 2013}} He is the only Japanese boxer to die outside of his home country.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2005|p=188}}

There were six fatal accidents before that.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2005|p=188}} First, an African American died of athlete's heart after an exhibition match in Yokohama in 1902.{{Cite web|url=http://ejmas.com/jcs/velazquez/Muerte2011_pdf_Sep_2011.pdf|title=Death under the Spotlight: The Manuel Velazquez Boxing Fatality Collection – The Data (pdf)|author=Joseph R. Svinth|year=2011|publisher=Journal of Combative Sport|access-date=March 8, 2013}}{{Cite news|url=http://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1902-02-05/ed-1/seq-5/|title=Fatal Prizefight – Yokohama Pugilist Died After Sparring With Jack Slavin|date=February 5, 1902|newspaper=The Morning Oregonian|page=5|access-date=March 9, 2013}} The first Japanese fatality was the former national lightweight champion, Nobuo Kobayashi. He never regained consciousness after a ninth-round technical knockout loss at the Koshien tennis court in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo in 1930.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004|p=289}}{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2005|p=188}}{{Cite journal|title=Problems in health management of professional boxers in Japan|author1=G Ohhashi |author2=S Tani |author3=S Murakami |author4=M Kamio |author5=T Abe |author6=J Ohtuki |date=October 2002 |volume=36|issue=5|pages=346–353|journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine|publisher=BMJ Group|pmc=1724555|doi=10.1136/bjsm.36.5.346|pmid=12351332}}

After the year 1952, five Japanese amateur boxers and two Thai professional boxers died due to a fight in Japan.{{Sfn|Baseball Magazine Sha|2005|p=188}} In addition, one Japanese amateur boxer died of cerebral hemorrhage after the test for a professional boxer's license,{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19700309&id=wEhQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QVcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4936,1873724|title=Japanese Boxer Dies|date=March 9, 1970|newspaper=The Evening Independent|page=3C|access-date=March 8, 2013}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19700309&id=8UtSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_3sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6738,8590653|title=Japanese Fighter Critical After KO|date=March 9, 1970|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=2C|access-date=March 8, 2013}} and one Japanese professional boxer suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage during a sparring session. The thirty-eighth victim under the JBC's professional regulations and rules, and the fifty-third in total, died of subdural hematoma seventeen days after his first professional bout against another debutant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/japanese-boxer-okada-passes-away-234679|title=Japanese boxer Okada passes away|author=Joe Koizumi|date=January 7, 2014|publisher=Fightnews.com|access-date=January 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108071128/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/japanese-boxer-okada-passes-away-234679|archive-date=January 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}

• List of Japanese boxing world champions
• Ashita no Joe, Rokudenashi Blues and Hajime no Ippo, popular manga titles about the sport

{{Reflist|group=*}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite book|ref={{Harvid|Baseball Magazine Sha|2002}}|editor=Boxing Magazine editorial department|title=日本プロボクシング史 世界タイトルマッチで見る50年 (Japan Pro Boxing History – 50 Years of World Title Bouts)|date=May 31, 2002|publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd.|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=Japanese|isbn=978-4-583-03695-3|pages=40–41, 78, 286, 291}}
• {{Cite book|ref={{Harvid|Baseball Magazine Sha|2004}}|editor=Boxing Magazine editorial department|title=日本プロボクシングチャンピオン大鑑|date=March 1, 2004|publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd.|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=Japanese|isbn=978-4-583-03784-4|pages=66, 67, 172, 242, 289}}
• {{Cite magazine|author=Jake Donovan|title=Upset of the Year|date=April 2012|magazine=The Ring|issue=May 2012 issue|publisher=Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC|location=Pennsylvania, United States|pages=44–45}}
• {{Cite journal|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|editor=MACC Publications Inc|date=October 15, 2011|script-title=ja:村田が銀 & 五輪切符獲得|journal=Ironman|issue=special issue|series=Boxing Beat|page=109|location=Tokyo, Japan|publisher=Fitness Sports Co., Ltd.|language=Japanese|ref={{Harvid|Fitness Sports|2011}}}}
• {{Cite journal|author=Boxing Beat editorial department|editor=MACC Publications Inc|date=February 15, 2012|script-title=ja:湯場、ついに4階級制覇成す|journal=Ironman|issue=special issue|series=Boxing Beat|page=29|location=Tokyo, Japan|publisher=Fitness Sports Co., Ltd.|language=Japanese|ref={{Harvid|Fitness Sports|2012}}}}
• {{Cite magazine|last1=Asazawa|first1=Ei|last2=Shibuya|first2=Jun|script-title=ja:移籍騒動の高山、問題収束せぬまま10月に再起|date=September 10, 2007|magazine=Boxing Magazine|issue=October 2007 issue|publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd.|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=Japanese|page=61}}
• {{Cite magazine|author=Shigeru Masuda|script-title=ja:熱いぞ! とてつもなく熱いぞ!! フィリピン・リングの「今」と「昔」|date=September 10, 2007|magazine=Boxing Magazine|issue=October 2007 issue|publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd.|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=Japanese|page=55}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite book|editor=Boxing Magazine editorial department (with Japan Boxing Commission, Japan Pro Boxing Association)|title=日本ボクシング年鑑2005 (Japan Boxing Year Book 2005)|date=April 30, 2005|publisher=Baseball Magazine Sha Co., Ltd.|location=Tokyo, Japan|language=Japanese|isbn=978-4-583-03849-0|page=188|chapter=ボクシング百科全書 – リング禍|ref={{Harvid|Baseball Magazine Sha|2005}}}}

{{Commons category|Boxing in Japan}}

• [http://www.jbc.or.jp/ Official website of Japan Boxing Commission (JBC)] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120217144504/http://j-boxwest.com/report/ JBC rules] West Japan Boxing Association {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://jpba.gr.jp/ Official website of Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA)] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://jpbox.jp/ Official website of East Japan Boxing Association]
• [http://j-boxwest.com/ Official website of West Japan Boxing Association] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Sport in Japan}}

{{World professional boxing champions}}

{{Asia topic|Boxing in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boxing In Japan}}

Category:Boxing by country