(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Yudai Shigeoka Retires to Support Brother Ginjiro After Brain Injury
Yudai Shigeoka, older brother of Ginjiro Shigeoka, has announced his retirement from boxing to focus on his brother’s recovery following a serious brain injury.
Ginjiro suffered a brain bleed during his May IBF minimumweight title fight against Pedro Taduran and underwent emergency surgery, leaving him in a coma. After weeks of recovery, he has now been transferred to a hospital in Kumamoto, Japan, where he undergoes three hours of rehabilitation daily.
Yudai expressed gratitude to the medical team at the National Hospital Osaka Medical Center, saying, “Thanks to the doctors and nurses, Ginjiro is still alive. We are truly grateful.” He added that he encourages his brother every day to persevere and keep his fighting spirit alive.
The Shigeoka brothers made history in 2023 by winning major titles on the same night. Yudai captured the WBC junior flyweight title, while Ginjiro secured the IBF minimumweight belt. Yudai reflected on their journey together: “We started martial arts at six, and together we overcame countless obstacles. Now my role is to support Ginjiro in his new path.”
Though Yudai’s boxing career has ended, he hopes to create opportunities for fans to connect with Ginjiro and follow the Shigeoka brothers’ legacy.
