Knockout causes boxer8217;s death

TOKYO, Oct 27: Super bantamweight Japanese boxer Ken Katagiri died today of brain damage, two weeks after suffering a knockout defeat, the Japan Boxing commissioner said.

Katagiri, 28, was the 28th boxer to die from injuries suffered in a bout since the commission was set up in 1952, said Tsuyoshi Yasukouchi, a spokesman for the commissioner.

He stood up and tried to fight, but the 24-year-old Takenaga punished him with a series of blows to the face. Katagiri went down again and fell into a coma.

He was taken to a hospital in downtown Tokyo and underwent brain surgery.

Katagiri became a pro boxer in January 1991 and had a record of five victories, six defeats and two draws.