Time for "Burning Spirit" culture in Japanese boxing to subside?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Aug 9, 2025.


  1. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    Unfortunately you cannot see a brain injury

    Refs and corners need to pay close attention and stop fights appropriately

    Sometimes there's nothing you can do
     
  2. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I think it's just one of those coincidental series of unfortunate events that happen once in awhile, which could possibly have to do with the current heatwave they're having in Asia, which is exacerbating the effects of their boiling down to make weight. Also it would help if more Japanese fighters learned how to defend themselves, just a little. You can slip, block and parry punches while coming forward too.
     
  3. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    I've loved boxing for 60 years. It bonded me with my dad and, four decades later, with my son.

    When my son was in his early teens he asked me if he could take boxing lessons with the goal of being a boxer. If he asked me this in 1985 I would have been thrilled and given my enthusiastic permission. But he asked me in 2004 and by then I had seen what boxing had done to favorite fighters of my youth such as Bobby Chacon, the late Jerry Quarry and Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez. The three of them had messed up heads and Quarry had died at 53. I told him no. Happily, he didn't fight me on it and life moved on.

    Boxing is such an enjoyable sport to watch but our heads weren't meant to be hit over and over again with bad intent.
     
  4. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    Japanese fighters just generally have low defensive IQ. Even Inoue who is the best Japanese fighter of all time, has good defensive skills. He can block, slip, well. However his defensive IQ is like a B. You don’t get dropped by Nery and Cardenas carelessly if you have higher defensive IQ.

    I think it’s just the boxing mentality and culture they’re brought up in.
     
  5. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    Eh... I kind of disagree with the Inoue grade. An on point fully alert Inoue defense is an A. But when he comes in balls out, ready for war, especially in the first round, it drops to a C. Same goes for Golovkin. Granted, Inoue and GGG are both Aries, our IQ shifts dramatically depending on how pissed we are. Clearly, just look at my angry super emotional reactions on the RBR's.:sisi1
     
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  6. Power_tek

    Power_tek Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Agree with this statement, young lions have a lot of bravado in them too (this is an assumption to be honest and pretty much goes against everything I know about Japanese culture) but it’s almost a certainty that they haven’t developed their ring iq and their ability to ride shots, it’s heartbreaking and seems like it should have been easily avoided, there are multiple failures that must have happened here for this tragedy to occur and for two fighters on the same card. I just hope that lessons will be learned from this tragedy.
    I say all this without watching any of the fights and I will avoid watching them.
    It could also be just a coincidence and a couple of innocuous shots? I don’t know but it’s awful.
     
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  7. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    Are they not getting water in the corner between rounds? That would be a stain on the team.
     
  8. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Katori's opponent, Yamato Hata, also required surgery and is in a coma, according to reports.

    Hata looked at least a division larger than Katori when they were in the ring, and seemed pretty heavy handed. I think that, in conjunction with the fact that Katori had never been scheduled for anything longer than eight rounds, probably contributed to the outcome. As for Hata, he didn't seem quite as polished and took some flush shots as a result. They didn't seem to trouble him that much, but they accumulate and can have additional impact if he cut and then rehydrated a considerable amount.

    Either way, it's just incredibly sad and horrifying that this happened. Best wishes for Hata, and RIP to the other two fighters.
     
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  9. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The frequent hospitalization and deaths in Japan within a short time frame is quite alarming that requires more attention on their safety measures. Apparently Japanese fighters tend to do hard sparring. Also doesn’t help that they have a kill or be killed never surrender samurai mentality with most of them neglecting defense. There needs to be some changes over there to ensure the health and safety of their fighters. Japan is a great boxing country that always produces awesome fights but I’m hoping that they can do something to protect the fighters and also encouraging them to be more defensive minded.
     
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  10. bandeedo

    bandeedo Loyal Member Full Member

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    i think they may be pushing the weight cuts too much in japan. their fighters are all rail thin for their height. they may not be rehydrating enough after weigh in, because replacing fluid around the brain takes more than 24 hrs. so when they get a hard blow to the head theres no cushion between brain and cranium. instant swelling and possible hemorrhaging. i think a more appropriate weight cut would prevent some of these tragedies.
     
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  11. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Culture has to change organically. Boxing seems to be a necessary outlet for Japan in that their social code requires politeness.
     
  12. Psst1

    Psst1 New Member Full Member

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    It is likely that the rumor of Yamato Hata being in a coma is false.
    There is no Japanese source to support this claim.
    Kotari's brother stated that Hata visited Kotari, who was in a coma, three days after the match.
    Furthermore, there are photos circulating of him attending a party six days after the match.
    It is unclear why such rumors have surfaced.
     
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  13. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    that may be. Their… Japaneseness… may be the issue. US, UK, you get corners who are like “ok, my man has lost, time to pull him out even if he hates me for it”.
     
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  14. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Hell, even Mexican coaches throw in a towel now and then.
     
  15. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    they ain’t Japanese.