Emergency Meeting in Japanese Boxing After Two Tragic Deaths

By Scott Kelly.

Japanese boxing is grappling with a profound crisis following the deaths of two 28-year-old fighters, Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, who both collapsed after competing in separate bouts at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall on 2 August 2025, and died days later from brain injuries despite emergency surgery.

What Happened

• Shigetoshi Kotari, a super featherweight, fought to a 12-round split draw with Yamato Hata. Shortly after the bout, he lost consciousness and was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma. Despite undergoing a craniotomy, he passed away on 8 August, six days after the fight.

• Hiromasa Urakawa, a lightweight boxer, was knocked out in his bout against Yoji Saito and, like Kotari, underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma. He died the following day, 9 August 2025.

These back-to-back tragedies have plunged the sport into deepest mourning.

Swift Action by Authorities

The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), under mounting public and media pressure, has announced an emergency meeting on Tuesday 12 August 2025. Gym owners and officials will attend, and further discussions on safety protocols are scheduled for next month.

Secretary-General Tsuyoshi Yasukochi emphasized:

“We are acutely aware of our responsibility as the manager of the sport… We will take whatever measures we can.”

Immediate Safety Measures and Key Concerns

• The JBC has reduced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights from 12 rounds to 10, citing concerns about the increased offensive power of modern Japanese boxers:

  “The offensive power of Japanese boxing today is tremendous,” Yasukochi remarked. “We have more and more boxers who are able to start exchanges of fierce blows from the first round. Maybe 12 rounds can be dangerous.”

• Japanese media have flagged another critical hazard: rapid weight loss through dehydration before weigh-ins can make the brain more vulnerable to bleeding. This matter, alongside pre-bout conditioning and weight-cutting methods, will form a central focus of the emergency talks with trainers and gym officials.

Broader Impact and Boxing’s Future in Japan

These two deaths are especially rare, and chilling, in Japanese boxing, where dual fatal injuries from the same event have never been seen before.

The tragic events have ignited urgent demands for reform, ranging from bout length and medical screening to weight management practices. Whether tradition yields to the imperative of fighter safety remains to be seen.