Two Japanese professional boxers have died from brain injuries sustained in separate bouts during the same fight card in Tokyo, officials confirmed.
Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, competed on August 2 at Korakuen Hall.
Both collapsed after their respective matches and were rushed to hospital, where they underwent emergency brain surgery.
Kotari, who fought to a 12-round draw with fellow Japanese boxer Yamato Hata, lost consciousness soon after the bout. His M.T Boxing Gym announced that he died at 10:59 p.m. on August 8 from acute subdural haematoma.
Urakawa was stopped in the eighth round of his fight against Yoji Saito.
The World Boxing Organisation confirmed in a statement that he “tragically succumbed to injuries” sustained in the bout, passing away on Saturday night.
“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari,” the WBO said, offering condolences to the fighters’ families and Japan’s boxing community.
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Japan Boxing Commission secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi told local media it was likely the first time in the country’s history that two fighters from the same event had undergone skull-opening surgery for ring-related injuries.
