Daigo Higa had thought-about hanging up his gloves after his shut September loss to WBO bantamweight titleholder Yoshiki Takei. However Higa has determined to maintain preventing – and needs a rematch with Takei.
That’s why a member of Higa’s group requested for the 29-year-old from Tokyo to be ranked greater at 118 kilos throughout a Thursday assembly of the WBO’s scores committee on the sanctioning physique’s conference in Puerto Rico.
Higa, 21-3-1 (19 KOs), had been rated No. 1 earlier than the loss and now sits at No. 3. The scores have been 115-112 and 114-113 (twice).
“It was a terrific match that was very, very shut and extremely intense. Many boxing professionals viewing this match extremely praised it. Most of them stated that this match will seemingly be chosen as Japan’s match of the 12 months,” stated Higa’s consultant. “As you’ll be able to see from the match, Higa is evenly matched with the champion. Now he’s at the moment ranked No. 3, however we want the ranking committee to think about rating Higa greater in order that he can problem for the title once more quickly.”
Newly elected WBO president Gustavo Olivieri erroneously responded that Takei vs. Higa was a struggle for a vacant belt between the No. 1 and No. 2 rated fighters – and that Takei now has to face one other necessary contender inside 180 days.
In actuality, Takei, 10-0 (8 KOs), received the title in Might 2024, taking it from Jason Moloney through unanimous resolution. Because the No. 1 contender, Higa would have already been Takei’s necessary. That signifies that Takei is now in a voluntary section and will moderately face Higa once more irrespective of his placement within the sanctioning physique’s prime 15.
Sadly for Higa, Takei already has a voluntary protection scheduled for December 24 on the undercard of Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman. BoxRec at the moment lists Takei’s opponent as Yuttapong Tongdee, 15-0 (9 KOs), whom the WBO has ranked at No. 10.
“Your man is No. 3. Let’s see what occurs, as a result of we can’t order a rematch primarily based on the official scores, that are presumed appropriate,” Olivieri stated to Higa’s consultant. “It was an in depth struggle, however the guidelines of the WBO Championship Committee solely order a rematch in particular circumstances. I’ve to seek the advice of with the committee. Your petition is duly acknowledged. However your man is No. 3. He’s there. However primarily based on the consequence, it was an in depth struggle however not controversial. Based mostly on the scores solely, we can’t order a right away rematch. However maintain lively, struggle for one more title […] and we’ll attempt to give him one other alternative within the close to future.”
It’s potential that Higa might want to wait in line even longer. The WBO at the moment has David Cuellar, 28-0 (18 KOs), at No. 1 and Christian Medina, 23-4 (16 KOs), at No. 2.
Cuellar has had one struggle this 12 months at bantamweight in January and one at junior featherweight in Might. Medina hasn’t fought at bantamweight since August 2023, when he misplaced a call to Ryosuke Nishida. Each of Medina’s appearances this 12 months have been within the 122lbs weight class, victories over foes with data of 19-26-2 and 7-7-2.
Higa was beforehand a flyweight titleholder, capturing the vacant WBC belt with a TKO of Juan Hernandez Navarrete in Might 2017. He made two profitable defenses, then got here in obese for an April 2018 struggle with Cristofer Rosales, who went on to dispatch Higa within the ninth spherical. Higa subsequently moved as much as the 118lbs division. He suffered his second defeat in 2021, outpointed by Nishida, who received the IBF world title earlier this 12 months. Higa’s third loss, to Takei, ended a four-fight win streak.
David Greisman, who has lined boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod. He’s the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast. David’s e-book, “Preventing Phrases: The Coronary heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is out there on Amazon.
