Second Japanese Boxer Dies from Brain Injuries After Tokyo Event

Japanese boxing has been struck by tragedy for the second time in as many days after Hiromasa Urakawa, 28, died from injuries sustained during a bout earlier this month, Sport360NG reports.

Urakawa was knocked out in the eighth round of his 2 August fight against Yoji Saito at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. He underwent surgery for a subdural haematoma, bleeding between the skull and brain, but passed away on Saturday.

His death comes just one day after fellow Japanese fighter Shigetoshi Kotari died from similar injuries suffered in a separate contest on the same fight card. Both men required emergency brain surgery after their respective bouts.

The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) expressed its condolences, describing the losses as “heartbreaking” and extending sympathies to the families, friends, and Japan’s boxing community.

In response to the incidents, the Japan Boxing Commission has reduced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fights from 12 rounds to 10.

Urakawa is the third prominent boxer to die in 2025. In February, Irish fighter John Cooney, also 28, died from an intracranial haemorrhage following a match in Belfast against Welsh opponent Nathan Howells.