“Give me some alcohol!”—He Went on a Rampage and Was Taken to the Hospital by Ambulance… A Former World Boxing Champion Reveals His Grueling Daily Battle with Alcoholism
Hiroki Ioka (57), a former two-division world boxing champion, began drinking more at home during the COVID-19 crisis. In the first part of this series, he discussed why he couldn’t stop drinking.
“I’m Not an Addict”
His catchphrase at the time was, “I’m not an addict; I can quit drinking anytime.” His primary care physician at the time also did not diagnose him with alcoholism.
“My husband’s doctor wasn’t a specialist and didn’t have any knowledge of alcoholism. So, when he visited a specialized clinic again in March 2023, he was immediately diagnosed with alcoholism and advised to be hospitalized,” said Emi.
Even so, Ioka himself did not recognize that he had an addiction. He refused hospitalization and initially promised to stop drinking. However, he couldn’t resist the temptation and repeatedly went on drinking binges.
“His first hospitalization was on April 26, ’23. My son and I had to persuade my husband—who was unsteady on his feet and couldn’t walk properly—and we put him in a wheelchair to take him to the hospital,” said Emi.
However, during Golden Week that same year, Ioka escaped from the hospital where he was being treated. Hospital staff chased after him on bicycles and found him on a nearby street. “I was trying to catch a taxi to go home,” he insisted, but he had neither his cell phone nor any money on him. Ioka says he remembers almost nothing about that incident.
“He was discharged after a three-month hospital stay, but at home, he kept drinking behind our backs. Whenever we’d rush him to get ready to go out, or whenever something annoyed him, he’d end up drinking.There was even a time when he went to a nearby convenience store and brought alcohol home without paying. He claims, ‘I paid via QR code on my phone,’ but in reality, I’m the one who goes to the store to pay the bill,” says Emi.
He would sometimes lash out due to withdrawal symptoms from alcohol withdrawal. He’d take his anger out on objects, smashing bowls and glasses all over the house. Each time that happened, the family would leave the house and spend the night in their car or at the gym.
“I just kind of felt like drinking, but I just couldn’t stop. There were even times when I hid alcohol in the bathroom,” (Ioka)
Even when Emi, worried about his health, tried to reason with him, saying, “You’ll die if you keep this up,” he would start lashing out, saying, “I don’t really want to live that long. Just give me some alcohol.” By this point, his γ-GTP level (a marker of liver function) had already risen to 6,000 (the normal range for men is 50 or below).His body was undeniably being ravaged. Last October, he experienced bloody stools. As mentioned at the beginning, he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance in the middle of the night.
After teetering on the brink of life and death, Ioka finally resolved to quit drinking. How exactly did he overcome his addiction?
“I felt I needed to find something to devote myself to, so I started attending the voice training classes my wife had been taking. Until then, my only ‘hobby’ was drinking and eating. Finding this new hobby—music—is what allowed me to quit drinking,” said Ioka.
His family’s support was also crucial. Eight months later, he remains sober.
“I don’t feel the slightest urge to drink anymore. It even makes me feel sick to see alcohol at convenience stores. I don’t think I could have broken free from alcohol dependence without my family’s support. Going forward, I plan to give lectures based on our experiences,” said Ioka.
Ioka continues to fight his battle against alcoholism in the ring.
From the July 10, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*
Reporting and Text： Reporting and Text by Kei Kato (Nonfiction Writer) PHOTO： Kei Kato, courtesy of Mr. Ioka