By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Japanese 130-pound boxer Shigetoshi Kotari (8-2-2, 5 KOs; amateur 50-23) passed away after a ring accident at 10:59 pm on Friday (August 8). It was just six nights after he fought to a split draw (115-113, 113-115, 114-114) with defending champ Yamato Hata in quest of the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) super feather title at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last Saturday. Kotari, a Nihon university graduate at 28, was leading on points after the eighth—77-75 twice, 78-74 all in favor of him—on the open scoring system. He, however, looked visibly slowing down to lose his accumulation on points in the final four rounds to have it a draw.
Last year we witnessed another ring tragedy. JBC bantamweight challenger Kazuki Anaguchi failed to win the national belt from Seiya Tsutsumi in a grueling bout on December 26 of 2023, stayed in hospital for more than a month and then passed away on February 2.
The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC), now in charge of the OPBF administration, announced to launch a quick and deep investigation and positively consider a reduction to a ten rounder from a traditional 12-rounder in OPBF title contests. May his soul rest in peace.
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/893455
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