Yoshiki Takei Scrapes Out A Close Win Over Higa
In an all-Japanese world title battle at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, WBO bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) battled countryman Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19 KOs). Takei captured the WBO belt in his last outing, a unanimous decision victory over Jason Moloney in May 2024.
Higa is the one-time WBC champion in the flyweight division. After losing the title and being suspended by the Japanese Boxing Commission, he’s risen from despair to resurrect his career. The challenger was on a mission to become a two-division champion.
LETTING THE PUNCHES FLY
After a cautious opening round, it was an all-action for the rest of the contest. The left-handed champion was landing with hooks and uppercuts from the outside. However, Takei has a leaky defense, and Higa took advantage by getting on the inside and pounding the body.
The fierce action continued in the middle rounds as both men landed big shot after big shot. Whenever Takei looked like he was starting to gain control, Higa would storm back. With a minute to go in round eleven, Higa was given credit for a knockdown when a left hook put the champion down on one knee. However, replays showed the knockdown was more a product of their feet tangling than the force of the shot.
Sensing the fight was close, Takei rallied and had a big final round as he had a tired Higa in retreat. Takei’s big finish proved key on the cards as he won the fight by a close unanimous decision (115-112, 114-113, 114-113) in what will go down as one of the better fights of 2024
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