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Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari, 28, died on Friday from injuries sustained during his bout with Yamato Hata on 2 August.<\/b><\/p>\n
The super-featherweight was taken to hospital following the fight in Tokyo, where he had emergency brain surgery to treat a subdural hematoma – a condition where blood collects between the skull and the brain.<\/p>\n
The Japan Boxing Commission said Kotari was one of two fighters to require brain surgery following the event, with Hiromasa Urakawa undergoing a craniotomy following his bout with Yoji Saito. <\/p>\n
Sanctioning bodies the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) were among those to pay tribute to the boxer, who had a record of eight wins, two losses and two draws.<\/p>\n
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said: “Deeply sorry for this loss, a ring accident which makes all of us go back to continue research to find ways to make boxing safer and implement prevention programmes.<\/p>\n
“Our deepest sympathy and condolences for his family and the boxing community in Japan.”<\/p>\n
Following the 2 August event, the Japan Boxing Commission announced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will now be 10 rounds instead of 12.<\/p>\n
Kotari fought to a draw with Hata for the OPBF super-featherweight title, while Urakawa was knocked out by Saito in their featherweight bout.<\/p>\n
There has been no update on Urakawa’s condition.<\/p>\n
Kotari is the second high-profile boxer to die in 2025 after Irishman John Cooney<\/a> passed away in February following a fight in Belfast.<\/p>\n Cooney died aged 28 after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage from his fight against Welshman Nathan Howells.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n