Daigo Higa
Daigo Higa (比嘉 大吾, Higa Daigo, born August 9, 1995) is a Japanese professional boxer who held the WBC flyweight title from 2017 to 2018.
| Daigo Higa | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | 比嘉大吾 |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 5 ft 3 1⁄2 in (161 cm) |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born | August 9, 1995 Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 19 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Wins by KO | 17 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
Amateur career
Higa turned pro at the age of 18, after a brief amateur career where he accrued a 36–8 record.[1]
Professional career
Higa's manager is Boxing Hall of Fame member Yoko Gushiken.[2] Higa made his professional debut in June 2014, defeating Saengkeng Saknarong by technical knockout less than a minute into the first round. He won his first title by stopping previously undefeated Thai fighter Kongfah CP Freshmart in 7 rounds to claim the WBC Youth flyweight title. He went on to defend that title twice before claiming the OPBF flyweight belt against Filipino gatekeeper Ardin Diale. Higa broke down and battered Diale with body shots, eventually stopping him in round 4.[3]
On 2017, Higa won a world championship in his first try, defeating Juan Hernández by technical knockout to become the WBC flyweight title. Hernández had won the title earlier that year against Nawaphon Por Chokchai and was scheduled to make his first defense against Higa. However, he lost his belt at the scales due to coming in over the weight limit. Higa dominated Hernández, dropping him five times over the course over the fight before the referee finally stopped the contest.[4] With the win, Higa became Okinawa's first boxing world champion since Akinobu Hiranaka.[5] After becoming a world champion, Higa said his goals were facing WBA champion Kazuto Ioka in a flyweight unification bout and breaking Japan's record of 15 consecutive knockouts.[6]
Professional boxing record
| 19 fights | 17 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 17 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Win | 17–1–1 |  Yuki Strong Kobayashi |
TKO | 5 (12), 0:45 | 31 Dec 2020 | Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan |
Won WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title |
| 18 | Draw | 16–1–1 | Seiya Tsutsumi |
MD | 10 | 26 Oct 2020 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 17 | Win | 16–1 |  Jason Buenaobra |
TKO | 6 (8), 2:25 | 13 Feb 2020 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 16 | Loss | 15–1 |  Cristofer Rosales |
TKO | 9 (12), 1:42 | 15 Apr 2018 | Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan |
Lost WBC flyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 |  Moisés Fuentes |
KO | 1 (12), 2:32 | 4 Feb 2018 | Prefectural Budokan, Naha, Japan |
Retained WBC flyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 |  Thomas Masson |
TKO | 7 (12), 1:10 | 22 Oct 2017 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan |
Retained WBC flyweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Juan Hernández |
TKO | 6 (12), 2:58 | 20 May 2017 | Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan |
Won vacant WBC flyweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Diomel Diocos |
TKO | 4 (10), 2:29 | 4 Feb 2017 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Felipe Cagubcob Jr. |
KO | 4 (12), 2:55 | 5 Nov 2016 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
Retained OPBF flyweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Ardin Diale |
KO | 4 (12), 2:39 | 2 Jul 2016 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
Won OPBF flyweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Romel Oliveros |
KO | 2 (10), 2:19 | 5 Apr 2016 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
Retained WBC Youth flyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Renren Tesorio |
TKO | 10 (10), 2:05 | 7 Nov 2015 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
Retained WBC Youth flyweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 |  Kongfah CP Freshmart |
KO | 7 (10), 1:01 | 24 Jul 2015 | Siam Paradise Entertainment Centre, Bangkok, Thailand |
Won vacant WBC Youth flyweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Cris Alfante |
KO | 4 (6), 0:37 | 8 Jun 2015 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Virden Rivera |
KO | 2 (6), 2:55 | 10 May 2015 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Pongpayu Chaiyonggym |
TKO | 2 (6), 1:36 | 12 Jan 2015 |  Culture Center, Hongcheon, South Korea |
|
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Keisuke Fujji |
TKO | 1 (4), 1:20 | 26 Nov 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Rotthang Wor Por Srisaket |
TKO | 2 (4), 2:40 | 22 Aug 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
|
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Saengkeng Saknarong |
TKO | 1 (4), 0:50 | 17 Jun 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan |
References
- "New Faces: Daigo Higa - The Ring". 4 March 2016.
- "Yoko Gushiken prodigy Daigo Higa goes for WBC flyweight belt - The Ring". 17 May 2017.
- http://www.asianboxing.info/asian-news/higa-claims-opbf-title-destroys-diale-in-4
- http://notifight.com/higa-derroto-al-churritos-hernandez-para-coronarse-en-casa/
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/05/20/more-sports/boxing-2/murata-comes-short-title-fight-ndam/
- https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/06/23/more-sports/boxing-2/wbc-flyweight-champ-higa-sets-sights-greater-notoriety/
External links
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Juan Hernández |
WBC flyweight champion May 20, 2017 – April 14, 2018 Stripped |
Vacant Title next held by Cristofer Rosales | ||