Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka in trouble with the JBC due to tattoo

One New Year's Eve we saw WBO Super Flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka (26-2, 15) [井岡一翔] retain his title with an 8th round TKO win over fellow Japanese fighter Kosei Tanaka (15-1, 9) [田中恒成], in what was a fantastic bout to end 2020.

Yesterday in Japan news broke that despite the win Ioka may be in trouble with the JBC for breaking one of their rules.

The JBC rule in question states "a person with a tattoo or other style that makes the audience feel uncomfortable" is unable to compete in a bout.

Typically a fighter with a tattoo is allowed to fight in Japan, the Western interpretation of the rule banning tattoos altogether, though the tattoo must be concealed. Usually this is done with sporting tape, concealing and various inoffensive powders, used to mask the colour and shape of the tattoo. The rule is also, only really, applicable to Japanese fighters and doesn't apply to international fighters, making it a very inconsistent rule at the best of times.

Reportedly Ioka did make effort to conceal the tattoo, a rather large tattoo on his left arm and left side, though those efforts appear to have failed and his tattoos were fully on show during the fight, which drew a very large audience figure and some complaints.

It was reported that Ioka had used foundation to cover the offending tattoo, and that he had been instructed the day before to hide it and follow the rules. It's also been reported that in the in the changing room before the bout, when he had his gloves checked, the tattoo was hidden, though by the time he was in the ring the tattoo was visible. A JBC official is quoted in some of the Japanese press as stating "Maybe the paint was lighter than before. I wondered if he was already sweating at the up stage or before the start of the game, but when the game started, it became clearer and clearer. The tattoo was visible,"

After the bout JBC officials were questioned about it and as a result a meeting will take place to discuss possible punishments for Ioka at an ethics committee meeting. There they could do one of 6 things, ranging from a Strict Caution right through to cancelling his license. Though if we're being honest we suspect it'll be a relatively light punishment. In fact if anything we suspect the ethics committee to give him a punishment similar to the one recently given to Kenshiro Teraji for his drunken misbehaviour out of the ring.

Although Ioka is a big name, it's been made clear he hasn't been given special permission with the JBC Secretary General, Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, has been quoted in the Japanese press as saying "I have never given special permission because he is him. The rule violation is clear and we are currently considering how to deal with it."

Interestingly a number of Japanese sites are beginning to question the rule, asking whether it's an outdated rule or unfair on local fighters, as it doesn't apply to visiting fighters. The rule is due to the links to organised crime members in Japan, and specifically things like the Yakuza. Historically fighters like Tatsuki Kawasaki, who came from a criminal background, had to remove his tattoos.

In recent years tattoos have become more of a fashion statement globally, but the rule is still in effect and is one that is still rooted in Japanese culture. Though as we move forward Japanese culture is probably going to join the rest of the world and begin to disassociate body art with the criminal underworld in the coming years.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Very interesting article.

JCB are very strict.

Is it due to the tattoo causing offense?

Anyone know what tattoo he has?

[Finkel]

This doesn't surprise me. All my mates with tattoos out here have to cover them at work, and can't go to public bath houses and struggle to use gyms.

Even a henna tattoo will get you denied entry to your local gym.

Though I did see a fully tattoo'd old man in a bath house where I used to live. Though that was in a well known Yakuza neighbourhood.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This doesn't surprise me. All my mates with tattoos out here have to cover them at work, and can't go to public bath houses and struggle to use gyms.

Even a henna tattoo will get you denied entry to your local gym.

Though I did see a fully tattoo'd old man in a bath house where I used to live. Though that was in a well known Yakuza neighbourhood.

You in Japan as well?

[bobcatbox]

All the more reason for him to come to America to fight the winner of Choc-Estrada!

[Finkel]

This doesn't surprise me. All my mates with tattoos out here have to cover them at work, and can't go to public bath houses and struggle to use gyms.

Even a henna tattoo will get you denied entry to your local gym.

Though I did see a fully tattoo'd old man in a bath house where I used to live. Though that was in a well known Yakuza neighbourhood.

You in Japan as well?

Yup, you?

[Ruthless-RKO]

This doesn't surprise me. All my mates with tattoos out here have to cover them at work, and can't go to public bath houses and struggle to use gyms.

Even a henna tattoo will get you denied entry to your local gym.

Though I did see a fully tattoo'd old man in a bath house where I used to live. Though that was in a well known Yakuza neighbourhood.

You in Japan as well?

Yup, you?

UK.

I meant ‘as well’ as in BoxingProspect, but he doesn’t actually live in Japan..

[margaret thatcher]

ya the jbc are strict, i lol'd when people thoght they were tough on nery just because he beat yamanaka, obviously know nothing about boxing in japan

[keirw]

So is it because the tattoo itself is an offensive image or is it the very fact that he has a tattoo that is deemed an offence?

[Finkel]

So is it because the tattoo itself is an offensive image or is it the very fact that he has a tattoo that is deemed an offence?

It will be the second one.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So is it because the tattoo itself is an offensive image or is it the very fact that he has a tattoo that is deemed an offence?

It will be the second one.

What is the tattoo?

I thought it was due to it causing offence.

But then foreign boxers can come in with tats.

Is it a bit over the top?

[keirw]

So is it because the tattoo itself is an offensive image or is it the very fact that he has a tattoo that is deemed an offence?

It will be the second one.

What is the tattoo?

I thought it was due to it causing offence.

But then foreign boxers can come in with tats.

Is it a bit over the top?

I suppose different things offend different people, that my be why they just have a blanket ban.

It does an odd rule though.

So, in theory, a Russian boxer could go to Japan and enter the ring with a naked woman tattooed on his back, yet a Japanese fighter with a poem tattooed on his arm would be forced to cover up?

Or am I miss understanding the rule?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ioka: Tattoos Have Nothing To Do With Boxing, I Hope To Chip Away At JBC Rule

Kazuto Ioka figured he would have to face the music at some point.

Controversy has swirled from the four-division and reigning WBO junior bantamweight titlist’s 8th round knockout win over Kosei Tanaka this past New Year’s Eve in Tokyo. The part that’s make the news has nothing to do with the fight itself, however; rather Ioka’s violation of existing and antiquated rules with the Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC).

A panel discussion is taking place over the form of discipline to dole out over Ioka fighting with visible tattoos, which is frowned upon as it relates to boxing in Japan. The JBC rules state that national boxers with “a tattoo or other markings that makes the audience feel uncomfortable" shall not be permitted to compete in a boxing event.

“For me in boxing, the commission asks me to [conceal] it before I enter the ring,” Ioka explained to BS.com, as translated by international manager Taku Nagashima. “But it really makes no sense and it has nothing to do with boxing, so I hope to chip away at this rule.”

The outdated rule does not extend to fighters outside of Japan, or even those who relocated to Japan from elsewhere (such as Venezuela’s former three-division titlist Jorge Linares, who lives in Tokyo). It also exists from a time when tattooing was illegal in the country. A ruling handed down last June by the Supreme Court of Japan deemed that it was no longer a crime to tattoo without a medical license, rejecting an appeal from Japan’s State’s Attorney’s office and throwing the case out of court, according to national published reports.

Boxing has yet to catch up in this regard, with the latest commission probe overshadowing an otherwise remarkable feat in the ring.

“People who are watching boxing are focused on the action in the ring, not the tattoos they [sport],” notes Ioka. “Then there are international boxers who reside in Japan and fight for gyms here that have tattoos and they are allowed to fight without having to [conceal] because they are foreigners.

“So, it is an awkward as well and inconsistent rule. If they are going to ban it, then they should ban it for all fighters , Japanese and foreigners.”

Ioka (26-2, 15 KOs) decided to get a tattoo shortly following his return to the sport in 2018 after abruptly retiring the year before. The 31-year old Osaka native entered the ring on New Year’s Eve with ink across his lower left abdomen and a full sleeve on his left arm.

“I decided to get it to symbolize that I was going to do something that I could not turn back on,” explains Iota, who has fought three times in Japan since his return, which preceded his U.S. debut and a fight in Macao. “If I decided to return, I can’t run away from that decision. In addition, it was to symbolize my feeling towards my family which was dedication that it was forever and never regret.”

Ioka notes that he applied concealer in an attempt to reduce visibility to his ink, but that the application wore off by the time he entered the ring. To his point, less attention was paid to his markings than the spectacular performance in the ring. Ioka—Japan’s only-ever male boxer to win titles in four weight divisions—denied his countryman that same honor, dropping Tanaka—a previously unbeaten three-division titlist prior to fight night—twice before stopping him in the 8th round of their highly entertaining title fight.

Whatever fate the JBC has in store shouldn’t prove consequential to the rest of his career. According to our friends at AsianBoxing.info, expectations are for Ioka to receive a “Strict Caution”, although the most severe punishment would be an indefinite license suspension.

Either way, there stands a greater chance of the four-division titlist bringing back his act to North America. In his sights are unification bouts with lineal king and WBC titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs), four-division and reigning WBA titlist Roman ‘Chcocolatito’ Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs), and Philippines’ Jerwin Ancajas (32-1-2, 22 KOs) whose last five defenses of his IBF belt have taken place in the U.S. or Mexico.

“When I returned, I intended to fight [extensively] in America,” said Ioka, who scored a 10-round win over McWilliams Arroyo in their Sept. 2018 bout in Carson, California before returning to Asia for his past four bouts. “I didn’t intend to return to Japan and fight. But, if the commission says I can’t fight here because of the tattoo, then I will only fight internationally.”

That’s not to say that the history-making titlist will turn his back on his nation altogether. Ioka will proudly fly Japan’s flag no matter where he fights.

At some point, though, it is hoped that the JBC can balance its longstanding reputation as an organization with integrity, with just enough flexibility to catch up to 21st century culture in the least offensive sense.

“I hope one day, Japan boxing will become more popular to a point where people watch boxing not based on a world title match or not,” envisions Ioka. “To do so, old thinking and structure may have to be reconsidered. I hope more fighters will go fight at—let’s say at Madison Square Garden (in New York City) and that it would change the perception of Japanese boxers in a positive way.

“For me, I have a brand in Japan as a world champion boxer, I hope to elevate this brand and take it internationally and be a role model to young fighters to dream big. So, I’m not really thinking about my tattoo [affecting] this fight, which I believe was great for Japan boxing, I’m thinking more about the future and to make boxing better for young fighters who are trying to make boxing as their living.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka Under Investigation By Japanese Boxing Commission Over Reported Positive Drug Test

Kazuto Ioka is once again at the mercy of his local commission.

A drug test surrounding Ioka’s 8th round knockout win of countryman Kosei Tanaka to defend his WBO junior bantamweight title last New Year’s Eve at Tokyo’s Ota-City Gymnasium. The Mainichi Shimbun—a leading newspaper in Japan—reported that Ioka tested for cannabis, with the sample having been examined at length as part of an ongoing investigation with the National Police Agency as well as the Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC).

Masanao Hattori, Ioka’s lawyer informed members of the media in Japan that Tokyo’s Ioka has fully cooperated with the investigation, which the attorney believes to have concluded and with the boxer cleared of any charges. The understanding is that the four-division champion is cleared of any wrongdoing, although his boxing status will be determined by JBC, whom Ioka’s legal team expects to publicly address the issue in the near future.

Representatives from Ioka’s immediate team declined comment to BS.com given the matter is still under review.

An official statement from his attorney “strongly denies he has ever used” any form of cannabis, suggesting that perhaps the substance was found due to the boxer’s use of CBD oil.

Ioka (26-2, 15KOs) became the first-ever male boxer from Japan to win major titles in four weight divisions, making such history following a 10th round knockout of Aston Palicte in June 2019. The feat saw Ioka win the WBO junior bantamweight title after having enjoyed title reigns at strawweight, junior flyweight and flyweight. Tanaka (15-1, 9KOs) was looking to join his countryman on that stage, with his own goal of becoming the fastest in boxing history to accomplish the feat.

The career-best win by Ioka has come with its share of controversy. In addition to the current drug testing investigation, the 32-year-old was forced to appear before the JBC due to fighting with visible tattoos, which is frowned upon as it relates to boxing in Japan. The JBC rules state that national boxers with “a tattoo or other markings that makes the audience feel uncomfortable" shall not be permitted to compete in a boxing event.

Ioka was disciplined in the form of a stern warning issued by the no-nonsense commission.

Plans for Ioka’s next ring appearance remain under discussion. There has been talk of making his way back to the United States, where he appeared once before in a Sept. 2018 unanimous decision win over McWilliams Arroyo—a win which saw Ioka return to the ring after abruptly retiring in late 2017.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ioka seems to be getting shafted by the JBC..

[Boxing Prospect]

Ioka seems to be getting shafted by the JBC..

Turns out the JBC's incompetence here may end up invalidating any positive drug test he may have had. Reportedly they sent the B sample to the fornicating police as evidence of a crime. rather than informed Ioka of a adverse finding and followed WADA procedure...

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ioka seems to be getting shafted by the JBC..

Turns out the JBC's incompetence here may end up invalidating any positive drug test he may have had. Reportedly they sent the B sample to the fornicating police as evidence of a crime. rather than informed Ioka of a adverse finding and followed WADA procedure...

I hear the drug was Marijuana?

[Boxing Prospect]

Ioka seems to be getting shafted by the JBC..

Turns out the JBC's incompetence here may end up invalidating any positive drug test he may have had. Reportedly they sent the B sample to the fornicating police as evidence of a crime. rather than informed Ioka of a adverse finding and followed WADA procedure...

I hear the drug was Marijuana?

It was, which is on the WADA banned substances list and use of it is a criminal offense in Japan, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine

[Ruthless-RKO]

Turns out the JBC's incompetence here may end up invalidating any positive drug test he may have had. Reportedly they sent the B sample to the fornicating police as evidence of a crime. rather than informed Ioka of a adverse finding and followed WADA procedure...

I hear the drug was Marijuana?

It was, which is on the WADA banned substances list and use of it is a criminal offense in Japan, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine

attorney expects exoneration

https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021/04 ... ioka-weed/

[Ruthless-RKO]

JBC clears Kazuto Ioka of doping charge after mishandling samples

Ioka tested positive for marijuana after his December knockout of Kosei Tanaka, though the commission deemed it a false positive

News broke last month that WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka, who already had a rocky relationship with the famously strict Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC), tested positive for marijuana after his December knockout of Kazuto Ioka. Earlier today, the commission held a press conference to announce that they’d cleared Ioka of all charges after discovering a litany of errors in their literal and metaphorical handling of the situation.

Asian Boxing has a breakdown of the commission’s findings, and since they’ve done the hard work, I’ll stick to bullet points.

•Ioka’s (26-2, 15 KO) A and B samples were stored in a staff member’s refrigerator before being taken to the hospital at room temperature several days later. Neither was ever frozen.

• The A sample, subjected to a “simple screening test” as opposed to a full analysis, tested positive for marijuana, while the B sample showed ephedrine, phenethylamine, and tyramine, but no marijuana when tested a month later. With the aforementioned storage errors, the commission deemed these false positives
• Ioka was not informed of the initial test failure.

• The commission passed the B sample on to the police, as marijuana possession is a serious crime in Japan, but did not to do until March. The police’s testing used the entirety of the sample, making it impossible to seek a second opinion.

According to Asian Boxxing, the commission took full responsibility for their mistakes and announced “a new doping committee and governance committee...to avoid similar issues in the future.” Chairman of the Board Yuhei Nagata was appropriately contrite.

“I can’t deny the handling of the samples was sloppy, and it’s a fact that Ioka’s reputation was tarnished by his name being leaked to the media,” Nagata said. “I want to meet him in person and apologize.”

Ioka, meanwhile, isn’t quite ready to let bygones be bygones.

“I cannot forgive them just like that. To be honest I’m not sure if I can keep fighting with peace of mind,” Ioka said. “This thing blew up and for a month and a half changed my life completely. I thought that this would be the end of my career.”

Let’s hope Ioka does find that peace of mind; super flyweight is a phenomenal division at the moment and he’s a key part of that,.

[ironbeard]

I love Japan (especially the women) but I would never live there (voluntarily), again. I do intend to visit again though.

[littlepug]

I love Japan (especially the women) but I would never live there (voluntarily), again. I do intend to visit again though.

What didn’t you like about it ? I visited Tokyo a couple of years ago and loved it but I imagine it’s very different living there.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I love Japan (especially the women) but I would never live there (voluntarily), again. I do intend to visit again though.

Where abouts in Jap where you?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I love Japan (especially the women) but I would never live there (voluntarily), again. I do intend to visit again though.

What didn’t you like about it ? I visited Tokyo a couple of years ago and loved it but I imagine it’s very different living there.

There's always a big differnece between being a guest in a city and living there.

[ironbeard]

I love Japan (especially the women) but I would never live there (voluntarily), again. I do intend to visit again though.

What didn’t you like about it ? I visited Tokyo a couple of years ago and loved it but I imagine it’s very different living there.

I love it, for a visit. Too many legal and social restrictions for my lifestyle.