Tragically, Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari has died at the age of 28 following a severe injury he sustained during a title match just a week ago.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced on X that Kotari passed away on Friday after his August 2 bout in Tokyo against Yamato Hata.
They remembered him as a “warrior in the ring” and a “fighter at heart.”
A translated press release from the Japan Boxing Commission, said the super-featherweight underwent emergency brain surgery to address a subdural hematoma after the fight.
This condition involves bleeding between the brain and skull and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
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Kotari was competing for the OPBF Super Featherweight title on August 2 and was excited about facing Hata, even sharing a photo of them together the day before the fight.
In his post, he expressed, “Finally, the time has come.
I will put everything on the line to win. I will definitely become a champion.”
Mauricio Sulaiman, the President of the World Boxing Council (WBC), also paid tribute to Kotari, expressing his deep sorrow over the loss and urging efforts to research ways to enhance safety in boxing and implement preventive measures.
He was 28 years old.
