Earlier this month, two Japanese boxers died of brain injuries in different matches in a program in Tokyo.
The 28-year-old Shigatoshi Kotari, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation Junior Lightweight Champion fell immediately after completing the 12-round draw against Yamato Hata. On 2 August. He gave an emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma-a condition where blood collects blood between the brain and the skull. He died on Friday.
The World Boxing Organization wrote, “Rest in Peace, Shigatoshi Kotari,” Social media“The world of boxing mourns the tragic passage of Japanese fighter Shigatoshi Kotari, who bowed to continuous injuries during his August 2 title.
“A warrior in the ring. A fighter in the soul. Gone very soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family, team and the entire Japanese boxing community.”
On Saturday, 28 -year -old Hiromasa Urkawa died after suffering from the same injury to Yoji Dito during a knockout necklace. He had passed through a cranium in an attempt to save his life.
The WBO said, “This heart -wrenching news came only a few days after Shigatoshi Kotari’s passage, which was killed by injuries in his fight on the same card,” the WBO said. Another social media post On Saturday. “We express our deep condolences to families, friends and Japanese boxing community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Following the event at the CoraQN Hall in Tokyo, the Japanese Boxing Commission announced that all OPBF title matches would be reduced by 12 rounds.
According to CBS News partner BBCLocal media reports that the Boxing Commission also launched an investigation and is planning a meeting in September to discuss the deaths.
These are the latest high-profile boxing deaths in 2025. In February, the Irish boxer John Cony died a week a week later, when Nathan was taken into intensive care after the defeat of his Celtic Super-Page title for Nathan Havals in Belfast. The 28 -year -old suffered an intrachrinil hemorrhage during boxing.
