Two Japanese boxers have died within a day of each other after suffering brain injuries in separate bouts on the same 2 August fight card at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, intensifying scrutiny of safety standards in the sport. Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa, both aged 28, each underwent emergency surgery for subdural haematomas before succumbing on 8 and 9 August, respectively. Kotari collapsed shortly after a 12-round draw with Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation junior-lightweight champion Yamato Hata. Urakawa sustained his fatal injury in a six-round knockout loss to Yoji Saito. The World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization confirmed the deaths and issued separate messages of condolence to the fighters’ families and Japan’s boxing community. The Japan Boxing Commission will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to review medical protocols, rapid weight-cutting practices and bout length. As an immediate step, the commission has reduced all OPBF title fights from 12 to 10 rounds. “We will take whatever measures we can,” JBC secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi said as calls grow for broader reforms following the twin tragedies.