Tragic Losses in Boxing: Second Fighter Dies from Brain Injury After Tokyo Event

The loss of Hiromasa Urakawa, 28, comes just days after fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari died from injuries sustained in the same event, prompting investigations and changes in fight regulations.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the boxing world is once again in mourning as Hiromasa Urakawa, a promising 28-year-old Japanese boxer, succumbed to a brain injury he sustained during a match on August 2 in Tokyo. Urakawa was defeated by Yoji Saito after being knocked out in the eighth round. Tragically, just days earlier, fellow fighter Shigetoshi Kotari had also died as a result of injuries from a separate bout on the same fight card at Korakuen Hall.

Both boxers underwent procedures for subdural hematoma, a dangerous condition characterized by the accumulation of blood between the skull and the brain. The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) expressed its profound sadness over Urakawa's passing, stating: "We mourn the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito." They extended their condolences to Urakawa's friends, family, and the wider boxing community during this challenging time.

In the wake of the recent tragedies, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced that all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts would now be limited to 10 rounds instead of the typical 12. Furthermore, media reports indicate that the JBC has initiated an investigation into the incidents and plans to convene a meeting in September to address the recent deaths.

Urakawa's death marks the third high-profile fatality in boxing for 2025, following Irishman John Cooney's death in February after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage in a match in Belfast. As discussions around fighter safety intensify, the boxing community faces a reckoning over the risks associated with the sport.