Hiromasa Urakawa has become the second boxer to die from brain injuries sustained at the same event in Tokyo earlier this month. The 28-year-old Japanese lightweight passed away on Sunday, days after Shigetoshi Kotari succumbed to similar injuries following a fight on the same card.
Urakawa was injured during his bout against Yoji Saito on 2 August at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) confirmed his death in a statement, expressing deep condolences to his family and the boxing community.
Shigetoshi Kotari, a featherweight from Tokyo, died from brain injuries after his draw with Yamato Hata on the same night. The WBO described it as an “irreparable loss” for the sport.
Urakawa had a professional record of 10 wins and four losses, with seven knockouts, across 14 fights. Kotari, 28, fought 12 bouts, winning eight, losing two, and drawing two, with five knockouts.
In response to the tragedies, the Japanese Boxing Commission has announced that all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title fights will be reduced from 12 rounds to 10. The incidents follow the death of Irish super-featherweight John Cooney, 28, from a brain injury in February after a title defence.
