Though still in serious condition, Japanese fighter Ginjiro Shiegoka continues to show improvements at a private Osaka hospital.

According to Yudai Shigeoka, brother of Ginjiro who lost to Filipino champion Pedro Taduran in their International Boxing federation minimumweight title fight last 24 May in Japan, the fallen boxer “has stopped taking painkillers.”

Ginjiro lost consciousness just moments after the ring announcer declared Taduran winner by 12-round split decision at the Intex Osaka.

He was stretchered out of the ring en route to the nearest hospital where he underwent a craniotomy after suffering acute subdural hematoma.

Yudai said “when I kept calling to him, he started to mumble and it seemed like he could hear me. He also blinked. I think he’s starting to become more conscious.”

If Ginjiro continues to improve, the next step could be “from the ICU to a general ward soon.”

Meanwhile, Taduran is busy making the rounds of some of his avid supporters, including a couple of lawmakers in Senators JV Ejercito and Bong Go.

Joining Taduran are his handlers, Elorde siblings Marty and Cucuy, and chief trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr.