Who was Shigetoshi Kotari? All about the boxing star as he dies at 28 after tragic brain injury

Shigetoshi Kotari, a Japanese boxer, was a super featherweight fighter who fought 12 times during his professional career and won eight bouts. Kotari tragically passed away on August 8, 2025, succumbing to a brain injury he sustained during his title fight six days earlier, according to the Daily Mail.

He made his professional debut as a junior lightweight and had also won the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Super Featherweight title, one of the most prestigious belts in the Asia-Pacific region. Shigetoshi was one of those boxers who were ranked within the top contenders globally in his weight class by boxing sanctioning bodies.

Kotari was 28 at the time of his death

More about the Japanese boxer, Shigetoshi Kotari

On August 2, 2025, Kotari and Yamato Hata fought out a draw in their OPBF Super Featherweight Title outing, which lasted 12 three-minute rounds at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Shortly after the bout concluded, Kotari collapsed and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma, a serious brain bleed.

He then underwent emergency brain surgery, but remained unresponsive and unfortunately passed away on Friday. As per the Japan Boxing Commission, on the night of August 2, 2025, when Shigetoshi Kotari suffered a brain injury that required a craniotomy, another boxer, Hiromasa Urakawa, also needed the same emergency surgery following his fight, and both boxers were kept under strict observation.

The World Boxing Organization paid its tributes to Kotari in a post on X (formerly Twitter). They wrote:

''Rest in peace, Shigetoshi Kotari 🕊️

The boxing world mourns the tragic passing of Japanese fighter Shigetoshi Kotari, who succumbed to injuries sustained during his August 2nd title fight.

A warrior in the ring. A fighter in spirit. Gone too soon.''

After Kotari's death, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) decided to change the rules for certain title fights to improve fighter safety. Secretary-General Tsuyoshi Yasukawa has announced that OPBF title fights in Japan will be reduced to 10 rounds, instead of 12 rounds earlier, according to The Sun.

As per reports, before the title fight, Shigetoshi had won his last two matches, beating Riki Hamada and Jonniel Laurente. Tributes for Kotari are pouring in from fellow boxers and fans worldwide.

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