Should boxing be banned as a sport?
Al JazeeraDEC 2024
Japan Boxing Adopts Safety Reforms After Two Deaths
Above: Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) secretary general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi speaks in Tokyo on Aug. 12, 2025. Image copyright: STR/JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
It's crucial that after these deaths, boxing looks in the mirror and sees what can be done to make the sport much safer and make sure the two fighters didn't die in vain. There will be calls to ban the sport, but instead all interested parties must continue to communicate and find ways to prevent future tragedies.
Narrative B
Although these measures sound promising on paper, they come only after multiple preventable deaths that highlight years of inadequate safety oversight. The boxing commission's reactive approach raises questions about whether these changes are sufficient or just cosmetic fixes to address mounting criticism.