Two Japanese Boxers Die From Brain Injuries In Same-Night Matches
Two Japanese boxers have died from brain injuries sustained during separate fights on the same night in Tokyo.
Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, were injured while competing at Korakuen Hall on 2 August and were rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery.
Kotari collapsed shortly after battling to a 12-round draw with fellow Japanese fighter Yamato Hata. His M.T Boxing Gym said he “passed away at 10:59 pm on August 8” despite efforts to save him.
“He did his best to fight his way through the surgery and treatment he had been receiving at a Tokyo hospital due to acute subdural haematoma,” the gym stated.
Urakawa was stopped in the eighth and final round against Yoji Saito and, according to local media, died on 9 August from injuries sustained during the bout.
In a statement on Instagram, the World Boxing Organisation described his death as “heartbreaking” and extended their deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community.
Japan Boxing Commission secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi said it was likely the first time in Japan’s history that two fighters had required skull-opening surgery for injuries from the same event.
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