Live boxing was expected to return this week in Japan, with the first round of the East Japan Rookie of the Year tournament scheduled for April 5, however, according to a report by Asianboxing.info, the tournament has now been postponed.
According to the website, the Japan Boxing Commission and Japan Boxing Association held a meeting this morning and decided to postpone the event. Originally, the event was set to take place in an empty venue with a free YouTube stream available, and a donation link for fans who wished to contribute. The West Japan bracket was set to kick off on April 26, however, that has been postponed as well.
No boxing events will take place in Japan now before May 19, when fringe super lightweight contender Hiroki Okada headlines a card at Korauken Hall in Tokyo.
These rulings will now also push back the ring return for former multi-time minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama, who was set to fight for the first time in almost four years on May 2.