The top boxing boxer, Shigetoshi Kotari died pitifully at the age of 28, only 6 days after losing in a championship match.
The Japanese fighter unconscious after the match against Yamato Hata on August 2. Kotari was quickly taken to the hospital and emergency brain surgery to treat hematoma under the endomery. However, it was sad that he did not survive because the wound was too serious. Kotari's death was confirmed by the world boxing organization.
A statement with the content: “Let's rest, Shigetoshi Kotari. The boxing world mourns the sudden departure of the Japanese boxer, Shigetoshi Kotari – who died of injury in the championship match on August 2.”
“A warrior in the ring. A warrior in the spirit. He was gone too early. We would like to express my condolences and pray to the family, the team and the entire Japanese boxing community,” the newspaper continued.
Kotari fought 12 rounds, each 3 minutes with HATA to win the OPBF Super Featherweight. Before the championship battle, he won two previous matches when defeating Riki Hamada and Jonniel Laurente.
After the emergency surgery and the death of Kotari, the Japanese boxing committee will execute changes under the command of Secretary General Tsuyoshi Yasukawa. Specifically, the OPBF championship matches will now take place in 10 rounds, instead of 12 rounds as before.