More tragic news has broken in Japan, where it has been announced that Hiromasa Urakawa has died from the injuries he sustained in his fight with Yoji Saito in Tokyo on August 2.
Urakawa was leading on two scorecards in the fight when he was stopped in the eighth and final round at Koraken Hall in the Japanese capital.
"The WBO mourns the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito on August 2 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo," the WBO announced in a statement on its X social media account.
This follows the devastating news that Shigetoshi Kotari died on Friday from injuries he suffered after his 12-round split draw with Yamato Hata on the same bill.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Japanese boxing community during this incredibly difficult time," the WBO wrote.
Kotari had been contesting the Oriental and Pacific junior lightweight title and was 8-2-2 (5 KOs) in his career.
Ironically, the only man to stop him was Urakawa, when they boxed in April last year at the same venue where they both suffered the injuries that cost them their lives.
Urakawa, from Tokyo, was 10-4 (7 KOs).
In the aftermath of Kotari’s death, the Japanese Boxing Commission moved to change the duration of OPBF boxing matches from 12 to 10 rounds.
Both Urakawa and Kotari were just 28.
The August 2 event, promoted by Hall of Famer Akihiko Honda, is being called “boxing’s darkest night.”