Two Japanese Boxers Die: Calls for Change in a Deadly Sport
Tragedy struck at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall when two Japanese boxers, Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, died from brain injuries sustained in separate bouts on the same card. Kotari died on Friday after suffering a subdural hematoma during a 12-round draw, while Urakawa succumbed to the same injury following a knockout loss on Saturday. In response to these devastating events, the Japanese Boxing Commission has mandated that all OPBF title bouts will be shortened from 12 to 10 rounds.
John Q. Hosedrinker