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23h ago

OPBF Title Fights Reduced to 10 Rounds After Two Japanese Boxers Die

The change addresses urgent safety concerns after both fighters suffered fatal brain injuries at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall earlier this month.

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Overview

  • Shigetoshi Kotari collapsed after a 12-round draw with Yamato Hata on August 2 and died on August 8 following emergency surgery for an acute subdural hematoma.
  • Hiromasa Urakawa succumbed to a similar brain injury on August 9 after undergoing a craniotomy for a subdural hematoma sustained in an eighth-round knockout loss to Yoji Saito.
  • Both the World Boxing Organization and the World Boxing Council issued official tributes and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening boxer safety measures.
  • The Japan Boxing Commission’s immediate rule change cuts all OPBF title bouts from 12 to 10 rounds and launches further reviews of medical protocols and fight durations.
  • Earlier this year, Irish boxer John Cooney also died from a ring-related brain injury, intensifying global calls for shorter bouts and mandatory neurological scans.