Boxing Star Shigetoshi Kotari Dies at 28 After Being Injured in Title Fight: ‘Gone Too Soon'
Shigetoshi Kotari died on Friday, Aug. 8, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced on X
The Japanese boxer, 28, had been injured six days prior during a title fight against Yamato Hata in Tokyo
He underwent emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma - a type of bleeding between the skull and the brainShigetoshi Kotari, a Japanese boxer who required emergency surgery after being injured in a title fight on Aug 2, has died. He was 28.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced in a statement on X that Kotari died on Friday, Aug. 8.
'Rest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari 🕊️,' said WBO. 'The boxing world mourns the tragic passing of Japanese fighter Shigetoshi Kotari, who succumbed to injuries sustained during his Aug. 2 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,' the statement concluded.
Kotari lost consciousness when injured in a title fight against Yamato Hata in Tokyo six days before his death, the World Boxing Council reported.
At the time, he was 'rushed to a hospital in Tokyo and diagnosed with acute subdural hematoma," the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) said in a press release shared on Facebook. Kotari underwent an emergency craniotomy and was 'under observation' following the procedure, per the release.
Kotari had fought 12 three-minute rounds against Hata in hopes of winning the OPBF Super Featherweight title. The fight resulted in a draw with Kotari securing a record of eight wins, two draws and two losses, per UK newspaper The Sun.
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On Aug. 1, Kotari shared his last Instagram post, a photo of him posing alongside Hata ahead of their match the following night.
'Weigh in clear! Finally the time has come. What I've been accumulating, bet it all and go win,' the caption translated from Japanese reads. 'I will definitely be a champion 🧨🔥 … Your support is greatly appreciated! Stay tuned. Osu'
The JBC has enforced changes by the Secretary-General Tsuyoshi Yasukawa following Kotari's surgery, with OPBF title fights now being 10 rounds instead of 12, per The Sun.
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