Six days after a junior lightweight title fight in Tokyo, a Japanese boxer tragically lost his life from a brain <\/p>\n
Shigetoshi Kotari died Friday, according to multiple reports<\/a>, following injuries he suffered in an Aug. 2 bout against Yamato Hata.<\/p>\n Kotari was 28.\u00a0<\/p>\n Boxer Shigetosi Kotari training. Shigetoshi Kotari \/ Instagram<\/p>\n He challenged Hata (17-2-1, 16 KOs) for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) belt.<\/p>\n Kotari had won consecutive eight-round fights by unanimous decision to earn the title shot.<\/p>\n The 12-round bout was held at Korakuen Hall.<\/p>\n Kotari lost consciousness after the fight, and it ended in a draw.<\/p>\n Kotari died at the age of 28. Shigetoshi Kotari \/ Instagram<\/p>\n Kotari inside a ring. Shigetoshi Kotari \/ Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cRest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari,\u201d the World Boxing Organization wrote on social media<\/a>. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Rest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f<\/p>\n The boxing world mourns the tragic passing of Japanese fighter Shigetoshi Kotari, who succumbed to injuries sustained during his August 2nd title fight.<\/p>\n A warrior in the ring. A fighter in spirit. Gone too soon.<\/p>\n Our thoughts and prayers are\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PjZtDyBIU2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Kotari, a Nagoya, native, was able to depart the ring on his own. He appeared to be shaken by the head injury.<\/p>\n He drew applause from fans in attendance as he left.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kotari leaving the ring after his last fight. @MaxCalendrillo\/X<\/p>\n Kotari (8-2-2, 5 KOs) was taken to a nearby hospital and underwent emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma.<\/p>\n He was unable to recover.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDeeply sorry for this loss, a ring accident which makes all of us go back to continue research to find ways to make boxing safer and implement prevention programmes (sic),\u201d said World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman, according to bbc.com<\/a>. \u201cOur deepest sympathy and condolences for his family and the boxing community in Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n The Japan Boxing Commission is set to make a big change in the aftermath of his tragedy, according to The Sun<\/a>, with OPBF title fights being scaled back from 12 rounds to 10.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t