Two professional boxers in Japan have died from brain injuries sustained in separate bouts during the same event in Tokyo, officials confirmed.
Super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both aged 28, competed on August 2 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Both fighters were rushed to the hospital afterward and underwent emergency brain surgeries.
Kotari, who fought to a 12-round draw against fellow Japanese boxer Yamato Hata, lost consciousness shortly after the match.
His gym, M.T. Boxing, in a statement shared on its website on Sunday, said he died at 10:59 p.m. on August 8.
“He did his best to fight his way through the surgery and treatment he had been receiving at a Tokyo hospital due to acute subdural haematoma,” the gym’s post said.
READ ALSO: Anthony Joshua drums support for aspiring boxers
We lost our shining light – the family of the boxer who died in Ghana
Urakawa was stopped in the eighth and final round against Yoji Saito and “tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight”, the World Boxing Organisation said in an Instagram post on Sunday.
Urakawa died on Saturday night, according to local media reports.
“This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in his fight on the same card,” the WBO said, adding it extends “our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community.”
Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the Japan Boxing Commission, told local media after their hospitalisation that it was likely “the first time in Japan two fighters underwent skull-opening surgery for injuries stemming from the same event”.