Tragic Toll of Boxing: Second Boxer Dies After Tokyo Knockout

Amid growing concerns over health and safety in boxing, the tragic deaths of two Japanese boxers within days of each other shine a spotlight on the risks athletes face in the ring.

A second boxer has tragically died as a result of a brain injury sustained during a match held in Tokyo. Hiromasa Urakawa, age 28, succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, just days after he was knocked out in the eighth round of his bout against Yoji Saito on August 2. This recent incident follows the death of fellow boxer Shigetoshi Kotari, who passed away on Friday due to injuries sustained in a different match on the same card at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall.

Both Urakawa and Kotari underwent surgeries for subdural haematoma, a serious condition characterized by the pooling of blood between the skull and the brain. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has expressed its sorrow over Urakawa's passing, noting that such tragic news arrives shortly after Kotari's demise. The organization extended heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and the larger boxing community of Japan during this profoundly difficult period.

In the wake of this heartbreaking series of events, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) has announced changes to regulations, reducing all title bouts governed by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) from 12 rounds down to 10. Additionally, reports indicate that the JBC has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding both deaths and is planning a meeting in September to address these tragic incidents.

With Urakawa's death being the third high-profile boxing fatality of 2025, following an earlier incident where Irish boxer John Cooney passed away in February due to an intracranial hemorrhage after his match in Belfast, the spotlight on the dangers inherent in the sport grows ever more critical.