The East Japan Boxing Association decided on July 8 to purchase two body temperature checking devices for novel coronavirus infection or COVID-19 to lend them to a promotor of a pair of boxing matches held closed-door at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on July 16.

The decision, made at the day’s online board meeting, will apply to the Oriental-Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight title match between champion Satoshi Shimizu and compatriot Kyohei Tonomoto and the Japanese super lightweight title match between undefeated champion Koki Inoue and Daishi Nagata.

The association will also provide the promotor with persons needed for the measurement of body temperatures of the boxers concerned free of charge in addition to the reduction of fees payable to the association.

Since the boxing matches will be held closed-door, and only a limited number of people are expected to be eventually allowed for the ensuing bouts, the Japan Pro Boxing Association has already decided to subsidize fight promotors to help cushion their financial burdens.

The July 16 bouts will be the second event ever since boxing matches were suspended in March this year due to the COVID-19.

The central Japan rookies’ tournament in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, will be the first boxing matches in Japan since the occurrence of the COVID-19.