Japanese super-featherweight boxer Shigetoshi Kotari has died at the age of 28 following severe injuries suffered earlier this month.
The boxer collapsed after his 2 August bout against Yamato Hata in Tokyo and was immediately taken to hospital.
Doctors discovered a subdural hematoma, a serious condition involving bleeding between the brain and skull. Kotari underwent emergency surgery but could not recover from the damage. The Japan Boxing Commission later confirmed his death on Friday.
The same event saw another fighter, Hiromasa Urakawa, sustain a life-threatening head injury. He required a craniotomy following a knockout loss to Yoji Saito. There has been no update on his recovery.
Safety concerns renewed in boxing world
International governing bodies, including the WBO and WBC, issued tributes to Kotari. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman expressed deep sorrow and called the tragedy a reminder to improve fighter safety. He emphasised the need for more research and preventive measures to reduce such incidents.
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Kotari, who entered the ring with a record of eight victories, two defeats, and two draws, had been fighting for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super-featherweight title. The match against Hata ended in a draw, yet it would tragically be his last appearance.
In the aftermath, the Japan Boxing Commission announced that OPBF title fights will now be reduced from 12 rounds to 10. Officials hope the change will help lower the risk of serious injury.
This is the second boxing-related death in 2025. Earlier in February, Irishman John Cooney died aged 28 from an intracranial haemorrhage sustained in a bout against Welshman Nathan Howells in Belfast.
Kotari’s passing has sent shockwaves through the boxing community in Japan and beyond.
Tags: Japanese super-featherweight boxer, Shigetoshi Kotari, WBO, WBC, Yamato Hata, Hiromasa Urakawa, John Cooney, Japan Boxing Commission, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, OPBF, Mauricio Sulaiman, Nathan Howells.
