Boxing: Acquitted death row prisoner, ex-pro Hakamada to attend match

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamada, recently acquitted over a 1966 quadruple murder after becoming the world’s longest-serving death-row prisoner, will attend a bout at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, the Japan Pro Boxing Association said Friday.

The 88-year-old will greet fans at the venue next Friday when he steps into the ring alongside unbeaten WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, who is 29-0 in his career with 22 knockouts.

Hakamada was indicted for murder, robbery and arson and his death sentence was finalized in 1980. But new evidence led to his release for retrial in 2014 and his acquittal was finalized on Oct. 9.

The JBA set up a support committee for Hakamada in 2007 and established a “Hakamada seat” for boxing events at Korakuen Hall, known as the sport’s spiritual home in Japan, for him to watch fights anytime.

Hakamada attended an event at the venue in 2014 after his release, when he received an “honorary championship belt” from the WBC, and watched a bout the following year.