A tragic incident has struck Japan’s boxing community, bringing deep sorrow. In Tokyo, following a tournament, two professional boxers — 29-year-old Hirmasa Urakawa and 28-year-old Shigetoshi Kotari — passed away. This was officially reported by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
On August 2, Hirmasa Urakawa fought against compatriot Eiji Saito. In the eighth round, he lost by technical knockout. During the bout, Urakawa suffered a severe head injury and was urgently taken to the hospital. Doctors did everything possible to save his life. He was diagnosed with an intracranial hemorrhage and underwent a craniotomy (skull opening) operation. However, unfortunately, the athlete could not overcome the consequences of the severe injury and died on August 9.
In its statement, the WBO said:
“In this extremely difficult time, we express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, as well as to the boxing community of Japan.”
The same tournament saw another tragedy that deepened the grief in the sports world. According to the WBO, 28-year-old Shigetoshi Kotari also passed away after his fight. He faced compatriot Yamato Hata for the East and Pacific Boxing Federation’s super featherweight (up to 59 kg) championship belt. The bout lasted all 12 rounds, ending in a draw, allowing Hata to retain his title.
However, during the fight, Kotari sustained a serious head injury. After the match, he was hospitalized and underwent surgery. For several days, doctors fought to save his life, but unfortunately, he could not be rescued.
This incident has once again brought the issue of safety measures in Japanese boxing into focus. Experts emphasize the need to strengthen medical examinations for athletes both before and after fights to better protect their health.
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