The East Japan Boxing Association decided at its board meeting on March 9 that it would retract its decision to slap a penalty of 500,000 yen (about 4,314 dollars) made in October 2020 to penalize Watanabe Boxing Gym President Hitoshi Watanabe for having failed to observe the association’s guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

At the day’s meeting, the EJBA considered positively the gym’s ensuing efforts to contain COVID-19 at the events promoted by the gym, adding it thought the penalty then was a little too heavy.

According to the association, Watanabe was standing to watch east Japan rookies’ tournaments at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on Sept. 6, 24 and 25 though such was not permitted under the guidelines. He also sat on a seat prohibited and did not abide by the repeated warning not to do so.

In the March 9 meeting, Watanabe expressed his appreciation for the association’s decision and made the comment to the effect, ‘’From now on, I am determined to make effects to the further development of the Japanese boxing world as an advisor of the EJBA based on my experience.’ Watanabe said he will donate the 500,000 yen to the association.