28-year-old Japanese super-featherweight boxer Shigetoshi Kotari has died from severe injuries he sustained during his August 2 title bout with Yamato Hata in Tokyo, an event that has sent shockwaves through the boxing community in Japan and beyond.
According to reports, Kotari collapsed shortly after the final bell of the match, which ended in a draw for the OPBF super-featherweight championship. He was immediately attended to by ringside medical staff before being rushed to a nearby hospital. There, doctors diagnosed him with a subdural hematoma — a dangerous condition involving bleeding between the brain and skull that can result in rapid deterioration if not treated promptly. Kotari underwent emergency brain surgery in an effort to relieve the pressure and remove the clot, but despite intensive care, he never regained consciousness.
The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) officially confirmed his passing on Friday. The tragedy has highlighted the inherent risks of the sport and sparked renewed calls for enhanced safety measures. This fight night proved to be particularly harrowing, as Kotari was one of two boxers to suffer severe head trauma during the same event — the other being Hiromasa Urakawa, who required a craniotomy after being knocked out by Yoji Saito in a separate bout.
Tributes have since poured in from fellow athletes, trainers, promoters, and international governing bodies. The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) issued statements honouring Kotari’s career and expressing condolences to his family. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman described the loss as “a ring accident which makes all of us go back to continue research to find ways to make boxing safer and implement prevention programmes,” before extending “our deepest sympathy and condolences for his family and the boxing community in Japan.”
In response to the incident, the JBC has moved quickly to implement rule changes aimed at reducing the risks associated with prolonged fights. It announced that all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will now be contested over a maximum of 10 rounds instead of the traditional 12, in hopes that shorter bouts may decrease the likelihood of catastrophic injuries.
Kotari’s professional record stood at eight wins, two losses, and two draws. Known for his skill, determination, and sportsmanship, he had been regarded as one of the promising talents in Japan’s boxing scene. His career, however, has now ended in tragedy, drawing parallels to other recent fatalities in the sport, such as the February passing of 28-year-old Irish boxer John Cooney, who succumbed to an intracranial haemorrhage sustained during a fight in Belfast.
The loss of Shigetoshi Kotari serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers inherent in combat sports and the continued need for research, medical readiness, and preventive measures to protect fighters while preserving the spirit of competition that draws so many to the ring.