Boxing world rocked, rule change made after two die on same fight card
The world of boxing has been left in mourning after a second star died from the same fight card in Tokyo, The Sun reports.
Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa had been hospitalised with a brain injury and undergone surgery after an eighth-round knockout defeat to Yoji Saito on August 2.
However, Ring Magazine have now reported the 28-year-old has tragically succumbed to injuries and passed away.
Urakawa’s passing comes just a day after fellow Japanese boxer Shigetoshi Kotari also died of injuries sustained during the card.
The WBO confirmed Kotari’s passing on Friday, which was six days after his bout with Yamato Hata.
Both fighters had been confirmed to have been taken to hospital by the Japanese Boxing Commission following their fights at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
They both underwent craniotomies, a procedure which involves creating an opening in the skull to access the brain.
Urakawa had a career of 10 wins with seven KOs and 4 defeats.
Following the death of Kotari, who was also 28, the JBC announced an immediate change to its rules.
It declared that all of its OPBF bouts would be contested over 10 rounds instead of 12 to try and reduce the risk of severe injury.
Regardless, the night of August 2 and the aftermath will be one of the darkest in the modern history of boxing.
He is the third boxer to die of injuries sustained in the ring this year, following Kotari and Irishman John Cooney who passed away in February.
Cooney had died at the age of 28 after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage in his fight against Nathan Howells.
