Two Japanese Boxers Die from Brain Injuries in Same Tokyo Event
- Publish date: Sunday، 10 August 2025 Reading time: 1 min read
Back-to-back tragedies shock Japan’s boxing world, prompting safety changes.
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The Japanese boxing community is reeling after two fighters, both aged 28, died from brain injuries sustained in separate bouts during the same event at Tokyo’s iconic Korakuen Hall.
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Shigetoshi Kotari collapsed on August 2 after a grueling 12-round draw against Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) junior lightweight champion Yamato Hata. Diagnosed with a subdural hematoma — a dangerous bleed between the brain and skull — Kotari underwent emergency surgery but died on Friday.
“Rest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari,” the World Boxing Organization (WBO) posted on social media. “A warrior in the ring. A fighter in spirit. Gone too soon.”
Another Loss Within 24 Hours
Just one day later, tragedy struck again. Hiromasa Urakawa, also 28, died on Saturday after sustaining the same type of injury during a knockout defeat to Yoji Saito. Despite undergoing a craniotomy to relieve the pressure on his brain, Urakawa could not be saved.
“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari,” the WBO wrote in another tribute, offering condolences to both families and the Japanese boxing community.
Safety Changes Announced
In the wake of the back-to-back fatalities, the Japanese Boxing Commission announced it will reduce all OPBF title fights from 12 rounds to 10 in an effort to improve fighter safety.
These incidents follow other high-profile tragedies in the sport, including the death of Irish boxer John Cooney earlier this year after a title fight in Belfast.
This article was previously published on UAE Moments. To see the original article, click here