Two boxers from Japan succumb to their brain injuries in a tragic incident at a boxing event held in Tokyo.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, two Japanese boxers, Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, lost their lives due to acute subdural haematoma (ASDH) following separate bouts at the same event held at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on August 2.
Shigetoshi Kotari, a 28-year-old boxer, was battling a fellow Japanese fighter, Yamato Hata, in his final bout. Tragically, Kotari lost consciousness after the bout and passed away on August 8. Hiromasa Urakawa, also 28, was stopped in the eighth and final round against Yoji Saito in another bout at the same event. Urakawa passed away just days after Kotari's death.
Both Urakawa and Kotari were hospitalized following their boxing bouts and were receiving treatment at a Tokyo hospital. The exact cause of Kotari's death was stated as acute subdural haematoma, while the cause of Urakawa's death, as specified in the provided text, is not explicitly stated.
The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) expressed its condolences to Urakawa's family, friends, and the Japanese boxing community, announcing his death on Instagram. The Japan Boxing Commission secretary-general, Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, stated that it was likely the first time in Japan two fighters underwent skull-opening surgery for injuries stemming from the same event.
Acute subdural haematoma (ASDH) in boxing is commonly caused by severe head trauma, such as repeated or heavy blows to the head. This type of injury often results from rapid acceleration-deceleration forces or direct impact, leading to rupture of bridging veins in the subdural space.
Preventive measures include rapid medical assessment and monitoring during and after fights to detect early signs of brain injury, enforcement of safety protocols such as immediate stoppage of fights if severe head trauma is suspected, limiting the number of rounds or duration of fights to reduce head trauma accumulation, more stringent medical examinations and screenings before fights, educating referees and corners to recognize concussion and signs of serious head injury for timely intervention, emergency medical facilities and surgical teams on-site for immediate care if needed, rules changes to reduce head impacts, proper return-to-play protocols after head injuries, ensuring sufficient recovery before returning to boxing, and improving defensive techniques.
The tragic deaths of Kotari and Urakawa have prompted the Japan Boxing Commission to introduce safety reforms aimed at preventing similar tragedies. The commission is focusing on a combination of medical vigilance, safety protocol enforcement, rule changes, and prompt emergency care to mitigate risk and improve outcomes.
News of the Japan Boxing Commission introducing safety reforms following the tragic deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, who passed away due to acute subdural haematoma (ASDH) after separate boxing matches, are circulating in sports media. The new safety measures include stringent medical procedures, enforced safety protocols, rule changes, and prompt emergency care to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
