Daigo Higa Destroys Moises Fuentes in One/Could We See Higa In The
U.S.?
Part of what made 2017 such a terrific year for Boxing was the attention and focus on the smaller weight much of which centered around HBO’s highlighting Roman Gonzalez coupled SuperFly card last September. The SuperFly card received much fanfare from boxing hardcore fans not only because of the rematch between Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, but that even was also the highly anticipated debut of power-punching Japanese superstar and current WBO Jr. Bantamweight champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue who successfully defended his title by way of a 6th round TKO over Antonio Nieves. As boxing is now in full swing in 2018 could we see the arrival of another power-punching force from Japan?
Earlier today in his hometown of Okinawa, Japan Daigo Higa (15-0, 15 KO’s) made the second defense of his WBC Flyweight title blitzing former WBO strawweight champion Moises Fuentes by way of first round stoppage. Higa, a patient pressure fighter with power in both hands was relaxed and cool early then struck by way of a solid right to the chin of Fuentes w/1:20 left in the opening round. At that moment Higa went on the attack landing shots to the head and body of Fuentes. A right hand body-shot by Higa put Fuentes down on all fours w/:40 to go in the opening round. Fuentes could not beat the count and the fight was called to a halt with 29 seconds to go in the opening round.
What’s next for Higa? Well for the immediate future you will see Higa in the Unites States… not in the ring fight, but more as an observer. In a story first reported by AsianBoxing.com, Higa will be ringside for the upcoming HBO #SuperFly2 card in Inglewood, Ca. on Feb. 24. Higa, a muscular fighter for a Flyweight is already experiencing some difficulty making the 112lb Flyweight limit is planning on moving up to Jr. Bantamweight in the not too distant future, possibly at the end of this year. And according to reports his promoters, Gushiken Promotions (headed by his mentor, former Jr. Flyweight and Japanese boxing legend Yoko Gushiken), are in the early stages of making plans for Higa to fight in the U.S. possibly Las Vegas next year. In 2017 we witness the U.S. debut of “The Monster” from Japan. It looks the seeds are being planted for the U.S. debut of another smaller-weight punching dynamo from Japan.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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