JAPANESE boxing is in deep mourning as it comes to terms with the passing of two professional fighters from the same August 2 fight card. News broke last night that Hiromasa Urakawa had passed away following injuries sustained in his eighth-round stoppage loss to Yoji Saito.
The WBO paid tribute to Urakawa in a message on X, stating: “The WBO mourns the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito on August 2 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in his fight on the same card.”
Indeed, as referenced in the social media message, this tragic news arrived barely a day after the death of super-featherweight contender Shigetoshi Kotari [pictured above], on the same card. The 28-year-old fighter, from Aichi, had boxed to a competitive 12-round draw with Yamato Hata for the OBPF title.
Shortly after the bout, Kotari was rushed to the hospital in Tokyo for emergency surgery on a subdural hematoma. The fatal incident has resulted in an immediate rule change from the Japanese Boxing Commission (JBC), reducing future OPBF bouts from 12 rounds to 10.
Everyone at Boxing News would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of both Hiromasa Urakawa and Shigetoshi Kotari at this difficult time.
