All six boxing events planned in the next two weeks in Tokyo and western Japan prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo were postponed as a state of emergency is in place from Apr. 25 through May 11 in these prefectures and Kyoto in an attempt to curb a surge in coronavirus cases during the upcoming Golden Week holidays, the Japan Boxing Commission and Japan Pro Boxing Association decided at their COVID-19 task force meeting on Apr. 26.

If the state of emergency is extended after May 11 when the situation does not improve sufficiently, the JBC and JPBA will further postpone the events or may carry them out behind closed doors depending upon the case, boxing sources said.

Four events were planned in Tokyo, Apr. 27, May 1, 6 and 9. One event was scheduled each in Hyogo on Apr. 29 and in Osaka on May 5, respectively. Of these, the Apr. 29 event will be put off until May 30, while the May 1 event has been rescheduled for May 19. The May 6 event will be postponed until May 20.
But, new schedules for those events scheduled for Apr. 27, May 5 and 9 have not yet been decided yet, according to the sources.

However, the planned event in Aichi prefectural city of Kariya, central Japan, on May 9 will be carried out as planned since the prefecture is not included in the emergency declaration.

Concerning the operation of boxing gyms, a boxing gym official said, ‘’Since the emergency declaration remains as a request for cooperation, the JPBA will ask each and every gym to judge by itself so long as the gym can control the flow of people adequately.’’