The second Japanese boxer died of brain injury at an event in Tokyo.
Hiromasa Urakawa (28 years old) passed away on Saturday after being defeated in the eighth half in the match against Yoji Saito on August 2. The incident happened after the death of Shigetoshi Kotari on Friday due to injury in another match at the same venue in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.
Both boxers had surgery to treat subcutaneous hematoma – the blood accumulation between the skull and the brain. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) said: “Remembering the departure of Japanese boxers, Hiromasa Urakawa, who did not survive due to the wounds in the match against Yoji Saito.”
“This heartbreaking news comes just a few days after Shigetoshi Kotari died of wounds in the match on the same stage. We would like to send the deepest condolences to the family, friends and the Japanese boxing community in this extremely difficult time,” WBO added.
After this event, the Japanese boxing committee (JBC) announced all the stretching matches of the Eastern Boxing Federation and the Pacific (OPBF) will have 10 rounds instead of 12 rounds. The Japanese media reported that JBC opened an investigation and was planning to hold a meeting in September to discuss death cases.
Urakawa was the third famous boxer died in 2025 after the Irish boxer, John Cooney died in February after a match in Belfast. Cooney died at the age of 28 after having cerebral hemorrhage in the match against Wales boxers, Nathan Howells.