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Second fighter on Aug. 2 card in Japan dies of brain injury
BREAKING NEWS
Michael Rosenthal
Michael Rosenthal
RingMagazine.com
Second fighter on Aug. 2 card in Japan dies of brain injury
A second fighter on the Aug. 2 card in Tokyo has died, according to reports out of Japan.

Hiromasa Urakawa, who was hospitalized with a brain injury after his eight-round knockout loss to Yoji Saito, has succumbed to his injuries. He was 28. The WBO reported that Shigetoshi Kotari, who also fought on the card, died Friday of the same injury, a brain bleed.

Both fighters had brain surgery after their bouts, according to the Japanese Boxing Commission.

On top of that, Yamato Hata, the fighter who delivered the blows that killed Kotari, has been hospitalized. Some reports indicate that Hata is in a coma, which also contributes to an unbelievably dark cloud over the event at Korakuen Hall.

Urakawa (10-4, 7 KOs) was a 135-pounder from Tokyo. The loss to Saito in a fight he was winning on the scorecards was his second consecutive setback and third in four fights.

Kotari died from a brain injury he suffered during a draw with Hata. Kotari, also 28, lost consciousness after the conclusion of the 12-round bout for Hata’s Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation junior lightweight title.

“Rest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari,” the World Boxing Organization wrote on social media. “The boxing world mourns the tragic passing of Japanese fighter Shigetoshi Kotari, who succumbed to injuries sustained during his August 2nd title fight. A warrior in the ring. A fighter in spirit. Gone too soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, team, and the entire Japanese boxing community.”

Hata (17-2-1, 16 KOs) also was 28 years old.

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