Overview

• Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa suffered acute subdural hematomas during their August 2 bouts at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall and died after emergency cranial surgeries on August 8 and 9.
• The World Boxing Organization mourned both fighters in separate statements, calling for accelerated action on ring safety.
• The Japan Boxing Commission immediately cut OPBF title bout lengths from 12 to ten rounds in its first regulatory response.
• Authorities have launched probes into the roles of rapid weight-cutting, dehydration and fighter conditioning in heightening brain injury risks.
• Promoter Shinsei Promotions’ handling of the Dynamic Glove on U-Next Vol. 35 event is under scrutiny and the status of Yamato Hata, hospitalized after his fight with Kotari, remains unresolved.