Japanese boxing to increase Covid19 counter measures
Earlier today the Corona Countermeasures Liaison Council, set up by the JBC and JPBA, held an online meeting in response to the recent increase of Coivid19 in boxing, and trying to improve the ability to hold shows, and increase the fan numbers at events.
Since boxing return to Japan PCR testing has been used where possible, on the day of the weigh in. This has caused several bouts to be cancelled on the day, or day before, of an event, including a world title bout and a bout that was set for broadcast on TV Osaka. As a result there will be changes to this protocol. From December 20th the PCR tests will take place 2 days before a fight, essentially the day before a weigh in. This means that fighters won't be able to risk passing the virus on to another at the weigh in.
That change also comes with a big burden on the fighters who will now need to isolate for 2 days before a fight, and not just the night of the weigh in. Essentially now from when a fighter has their PCR test they will essentially need to stay in a designated hotel until the day of their fight.
There has also been a crack down on the behaviour of trainers. Chief trainers had been requested to stay at home and wait until matches after taking their PCR tests on the day of the weigh in. They had however been seen out and breaking those rules. The Council have now made it clear that violations will be punished.
Another major change was the amount of testing fighters will have to go through. Whilst most fighters will only receive one test those in title bouts will see their testing increase. For regional and national title bouts fighters will have to have 2 PCR tests whilst those in world title bouts will have 3, though at the moment dates and time scales for this weren't announced.
Notably it wasn't just fighters and trainers at the center of today's meeting but also fans. Whilst many fans have respected the rules that have been brought in, limiting noises to applause and not shouting or chanting, a number have broken that rule. It appears that the council may prevent fans from attending full stop if they continue to breach the shouting rule. It's clear they need fans to co-operate and it appears that having a very serious threat for fans will be their deterrent for shouting, at least for the foreseeable future.
Notably the subject of the WBA Light Flyweight title bout between Hiroto Kyoguchi (14-0, 9) [京口 紘人] and Thanongsak Simsri (14-0, 12) did come up, and whilst it wasn't ruled out for this year, they did admit it could be very difficult to arrange before the end of the year.
One other interesting thing to come out of the meeting was causes of clusters at gyms. It was originally assumed that simply being around each other was causing it and normal gym activity was the biggest problem. Now however it's being put down to conversations in changing rooms, rather than face to face training. With that in mind it seems likely that those in gyms will be expected to change their behaviour for the time being.
Since boxing return to Japan PCR testing has been used where possible, on the day of the weigh in. This has caused several bouts to be cancelled on the day, or day before, of an event, including a world title bout and a bout that was set for broadcast on TV Osaka. As a result there will be changes to this protocol. From December 20th the PCR tests will take place 2 days before a fight, essentially the day before a weigh in. This means that fighters won't be able to risk passing the virus on to another at the weigh in.
That change also comes with a big burden on the fighters who will now need to isolate for 2 days before a fight, and not just the night of the weigh in. Essentially now from when a fighter has their PCR test they will essentially need to stay in a designated hotel until the day of their fight.
There has also been a crack down on the behaviour of trainers. Chief trainers had been requested to stay at home and wait until matches after taking their PCR tests on the day of the weigh in. They had however been seen out and breaking those rules. The Council have now made it clear that violations will be punished.
Another major change was the amount of testing fighters will have to go through. Whilst most fighters will only receive one test those in title bouts will see their testing increase. For regional and national title bouts fighters will have to have 2 PCR tests whilst those in world title bouts will have 3, though at the moment dates and time scales for this weren't announced.
Notably it wasn't just fighters and trainers at the center of today's meeting but also fans. Whilst many fans have respected the rules that have been brought in, limiting noises to applause and not shouting or chanting, a number have broken that rule. It appears that the council may prevent fans from attending full stop if they continue to breach the shouting rule. It's clear they need fans to co-operate and it appears that having a very serious threat for fans will be their deterrent for shouting, at least for the foreseeable future.
Notably the subject of the WBA Light Flyweight title bout between Hiroto Kyoguchi (14-0, 9) [京口 紘人] and Thanongsak Simsri (14-0, 12) did come up, and whilst it wasn't ruled out for this year, they did admit it could be very difficult to arrange before the end of the year.
One other interesting thing to come out of the meeting was causes of clusters at gyms. It was originally assumed that simply being around each other was causing it and normal gym activity was the biggest problem. Now however it's being put down to conversations in changing rooms, rather than face to face training. With that in mind it seems likely that those in gyms will be expected to change their behaviour for the time being.