The recent WBC bantamweight title fight in Tokyo, featuring Takuma Inoue against Tenshin Nasukawa, caught the attention of viewers with the appearance of the Toronto Blue Jays logo on the ring’s corner posts and canvas floor. The Athletic reported that this logo display, described as a “sponsorship” for the Blue Jays, did not involve Major League Baseball’s approval, contrary to typical procedures.
According to The Athletic, the Blue Jays acknowledged awareness of the sponsorship but clarified that it was not a paid arrangement. The league office was reportedly not part of this initiative. A spokesperson for the Blue Jays, Andrea Goldstein, confirmed the details, stating that no further comments would be provided.
It remains uncertain if MLB will address the matter, as they did not respond immediately to inquiries. The Blue Jays, fresh off their impressive World Series performance as runners-up, are now focused on building a competitive team for the upcoming season to pursue a championship title. Japan, known for producing top baseball talent, has been a target market for MLB teams like the Blue Jays seeking to attract and retain star players from the region.
