Hiranaka's license indefinitely suspended, Ioka Reprimanded
Earlier today the JBC made two rather notable announcements regarding breaches of rules, one featuring a small but notable promoter, and the other featuring one of the nations most decorated and celebrated fighters.
The more interesting of the two stories, concerns the promoter, with the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) suspendeding the promoter license of Hiranaka Boxing School’s chairman Nobuaki Hiranaka indefinitely. A serious punishment, for what is a genuinely serious breach of multiple rules. Hiranaka, a former fighter who held the WBA title at 140lbs back in 1992 before becoming a promoter, held an event last May, where he had requested JBC permission to invite 5 Nigerians, to be involved in his show, with the Nigerians consisting of two fighters, two managers and a trainer. The JBC helped to get visas for entry of the 5, though none of them actually took part on the show in May. Instead 3 other Nigerians were involved on the show, including two fighters and a trainer. The three Nigerians were flown to Sapporo and the JBC asked to see their passports, though were denied by Mr Hiranaka, who held the show and had the two Nigerian fighters fight, with both losing by knockout in the first round.
After the event Mr Hiranaka continued to deceive the JBC, telling them that three had returned to Nigeria, and it was also revealed that the original 5 invited were never actually in Japan.
It appears to be a case of ringers being used, with the names of the fighters that were applied for. Sadly though it appears Mr Hiranaka may have been aware of the ringers, and used them anyway, rather than canceling their fights and involvement in the show. Instead allowing the fighters, who didn’t look like they knew what they were doing in the ring, to participate in the event.
Notably the JBC have now invalidated both of the matches concerned, and amazingly Boxrec doesn’t even have them listed as unsanctioned or No Contests, with both the JBC and Boxrec acting as if the bouts simply never took place.
As for Hiranaka this is a series breach of rules, and it seems highly unlikely the JBC will allow him a license in the future, and the JBC seem almost certain to tighten their rules regarding foreign fighters, and the promoters duty to the JBC and the fighters. We’re lucky no one was seriously harmed here, and it really needs to be hoped that ringers aren’t involved in such a dangerous sport. If, as it seems, Hiranaka knew the men were ringers then he deserves the indefinite suspension.
As for the fighter being given a reprimand, that’s Kazuto Ioka (31-2, 16) [井岡一翔], the current WBA Super Flyweight world champion. Ioka's doping test after his December 31st 2022 bout with Joshua Franco, the first of two bouts between the men, saw Ioka have THC-COOH in his system, a metabolite of THC. He didn't breach the WADA threshold, so didn't have a positive test, though the JBC appear to be making it clear that he shouldn't have it in his system following a previous case of possessing marijuana, which is banned in Japan. The JBC have ruled that Ioka has failed "to fulfill his obligation to constantly strive to enhance the integrity and maintain the trust of the boxing community". It’s a telling off, but if we’re being honest the 34 year old doesn’t seem to care much for the JBC after a previous drug testing issue, following his bout with Kosei Tanaka, and an issue arising from his tattoos being on show.
The more interesting of the two stories, concerns the promoter, with the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) suspendeding the promoter license of Hiranaka Boxing School’s chairman Nobuaki Hiranaka indefinitely. A serious punishment, for what is a genuinely serious breach of multiple rules. Hiranaka, a former fighter who held the WBA title at 140lbs back in 1992 before becoming a promoter, held an event last May, where he had requested JBC permission to invite 5 Nigerians, to be involved in his show, with the Nigerians consisting of two fighters, two managers and a trainer. The JBC helped to get visas for entry of the 5, though none of them actually took part on the show in May. Instead 3 other Nigerians were involved on the show, including two fighters and a trainer. The three Nigerians were flown to Sapporo and the JBC asked to see their passports, though were denied by Mr Hiranaka, who held the show and had the two Nigerian fighters fight, with both losing by knockout in the first round.
After the event Mr Hiranaka continued to deceive the JBC, telling them that three had returned to Nigeria, and it was also revealed that the original 5 invited were never actually in Japan.
It appears to be a case of ringers being used, with the names of the fighters that were applied for. Sadly though it appears Mr Hiranaka may have been aware of the ringers, and used them anyway, rather than canceling their fights and involvement in the show. Instead allowing the fighters, who didn’t look like they knew what they were doing in the ring, to participate in the event.
Notably the JBC have now invalidated both of the matches concerned, and amazingly Boxrec doesn’t even have them listed as unsanctioned or No Contests, with both the JBC and Boxrec acting as if the bouts simply never took place.
As for Hiranaka this is a series breach of rules, and it seems highly unlikely the JBC will allow him a license in the future, and the JBC seem almost certain to tighten their rules regarding foreign fighters, and the promoters duty to the JBC and the fighters. We’re lucky no one was seriously harmed here, and it really needs to be hoped that ringers aren’t involved in such a dangerous sport. If, as it seems, Hiranaka knew the men were ringers then he deserves the indefinite suspension.
As for the fighter being given a reprimand, that’s Kazuto Ioka (31-2, 16) [井岡一翔], the current WBA Super Flyweight world champion. Ioka's doping test after his December 31st 2022 bout with Joshua Franco, the first of two bouts between the men, saw Ioka have THC-COOH in his system, a metabolite of THC. He didn't breach the WADA threshold, so didn't have a positive test, though the JBC appear to be making it clear that he shouldn't have it in his system following a previous case of possessing marijuana, which is banned in Japan. The JBC have ruled that Ioka has failed "to fulfill his obligation to constantly strive to enhance the integrity and maintain the trust of the boxing community". It’s a telling off, but if we’re being honest the 34 year old doesn’t seem to care much for the JBC after a previous drug testing issue, following his bout with Kosei Tanaka, and an issue arising from his tattoos being on show.