Yudai Shigeoka has provided an in-depth update on his brother Ginjiro Shigeoka’s health.
The update comes after multiple reports last week that Ginjiro remained unconscious following brain surgery for a brain bleed suffered in his defeat to Pedro Taduran for the IBF minimumweight title. Ginjiro was facing Taduran for the second time, after losing his belt 10 months earlier in a stoppage defeat to Taduran, a contest in which he collapsed and was stretchered out of the ring.
Ginjiro was given the all clear to face Taduran again back in May by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and doctors, but he again was stretchered out of the ring after collapsing following 12 hard rounds. It was revealed that Ginjiro had suffered a bleed on the brain and underwent a craniotomy. The JBC announced that he must retire from the sport.
Early signs after surgery were positive, with Ginjiro breathing on his own and responding with mumbles to voices, but there was little news after that on his condition. Ginjiro’s injuries in the ring were again thrust into the spotlight earlier this month when two Japanese fighters Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa died from injuries suffered in separate fights in an event in Tokyo on August 2.
His older brother Yudai, who won the WBC minimumweight title in 2023, announced shortly after that he would be retiring from professional boxing to help care for Ginjiro. He also revealed Ginjiro had moved hospitals in Japan, from Osaka to Kumamoto, and had started rehabilitation. There were several reports after the tragic events on August 2 that Ginjiro remained unconscious following his injuries, and Yudai took to Instagram to prove that is not the case.
“Ginjiro is conscious. The online news report that he “remains unconscious” made my grandmother very sad,” read the post, translated from Japanese. “However, since the media members have not seen Ginjiro directly at the hospital, it is only natural that they don’t know. That is why I’m giving you the right information.”
Along with the post was a video of Yudai holding his brother’s hand in hospital from a visit on August 15, according to the caption. He would signal several hand signs to his brother, ‘Thumbs up,’ ‘Peace,’ Fist,’ and Ginjiro would copy him.
“Although it is only the hand, this alone shows that Ginjiro is conscious and can communicate. The scars on his face are so painful that he cannot see people,” Yudai’s post continued.
“Although he still has paralysis on the left side of his body, he was able to move his left hand, which he couldn’t move when in hospital in Osaka. Today he even showed us a fighter pose (I thought he was shit lol).
“When I told him at our meeting yesterday, ‘Everyone thinks you’re unconscious,’ he couldn't speak, but he looked very displeased. I told him, ‘Let’s make a video to show Ginjiro is alive!’ and I think he posed with all his might.
“He is losing weight because he is receiving nutrition through a tube from his nose to his stomach, but he will soon be able to eat and drink by mouth as part of his rehabilitation. Once that happens he should have more energy.
“Also, I’ve been reading all the messages I received from so many people yesterday. I feel so much better and more motivated. Everyone is so kind, it’s a blessing.
“Let me report back to you. Osu.”
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