Daigo Higa


Daigo Higa is a Japanese retired professional boxer who held the WBC flyweight title from 2017 to 2018.
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Amateur career

Higa turned pro at the age of 18, after a brief amateur career where he accrued a 36–8 record.

Professional career

Higa's manager is Boxing Hall of Fame member Yoko Gushiken. 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.

Higa vs. Hernandez

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. With the win, Higa became Okinawa's first boxing world champion since Akinobu Hiranaka.
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.

Higa vs. Rosales

On 15 April, 2018, Higa defended his WBC flyweight title for the third time in a row against challenger Cristofer Rosales. Higa lost the fight and his belt via TKO in the ninth round.

Higa vs. Tsutsumi

On 26 October, 2020, Higa fought Seiya Tsutsumi. The fight ended in a majority draw, one judge scoring it in favour of Higa, 96-94, while the other two judges saw the fight as a draw, scoring it 95-95.

Higa vs. Kobayashi

On 31 December, 2020, Higa fought Yuki Kobayashi, who was ranked #9 by the IBF and #14 by the WBO at bantamweight. Higa won via a fifth-round knockout.

Higa vs. Tsutsumi

Higa was scheduled to challenge Seiya Tsutsumi for his WBA bantamweight title at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on February 24, 2025. The fight ended in a draw with all three judges scoring it 114–114.

Higa vs. Vargas

Higa fought Antonio Vargas on July 30, 2025 in Yokahama, Japan. The fight ended in a draw, with all three judges scoring the fight 113-113. Higa announced his retirement from boxing the following day.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
27DrawAntonio VargasUD1230 Jul 2025Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, Yokohama, JapanFor WBA bantamweight title
26Draw21–3–2Seiya Tsutsumi1224 Feb 2025Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA bantamweight title
25Loss21–3–1Yoshiki TakeiUD123 Sep 2024Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JapanFor WBO bantamweight title
24Win21–2–1Nawaphon KaikanhaKO4, 2:2931 Dec 2023Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
23Win20–2–1Yodmongkol CP FreshmartKO4, 1:3424 Jun 2023Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
22Win19–2–1Songsaeng PhoyaemUD1015 Nov 2022Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
21Win18–2–1Froilan SaludarSD813 Jul 2022Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
20Loss17–2–1Ryosuke Nishida1224 Apr 2021Convention Center, Ginowan, JapanLost WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title
19Win17–1–1Yuki Strong KobayashiTKO5, 0:4531 Dec 2020Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanWon WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title
18Draw16–1–1Seiya Tsutsumi1026 Oct 2020Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
17Win16–1Jason BuenaobraTKO6, 2:2513 Feb 2020Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
16Loss15–1Cristofer RosalesTKO9, 1:4215 Apr 2018Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, JapanWBC flyweight title at stake only for Rosales, Higa missed weight
15Win15–0Moisés FuentesKO1, 2:324 Feb 2018Prefectural Budokan, Naha, JapanRetained WBC flyweight title
14Win14–0Thomas MassonTKO7, 1:1022 Oct 2017Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC flyweight title
13Win13–0Juan HernándezTKO6, 2:5820 May 2017Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBC flyweight title
12Win12–0Diomel DiocosTKO4, 2:294 Feb 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win11–0Felipe Cagubcob Jr.KO4, 2:555 Nov 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF flyweight title
10Win10–0Ardin DialeKO4, 2:392 Jul 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon OPBF flyweight title
9Win9–0Romel OliverosKO2, 2:195 Apr 2016Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC Youth flyweight title
8Win8–0Renren TesorioTKO10, 2:057 Nov 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC Youth flyweight title
7Win7–0Kongfah CP FreshmartKO7, 1:0124 Jul 2015Siam Paradise Entertainment Centre, Bangkok, ThailandWon vacant WBC Youth flyweight title
6Win6–0Cris AlfanteKO4, 0:378 Jun 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
5Win5–0Virden Rivera2, 2:5510 May 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win4–0Pongpayu ChaiyonggymTKO2, 1:3612 Jan 2015Culture Center, Hongcheon, South Korea
3Win3–0Keisuke FujjiTKO1, 1:2026 Nov 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Rotthang Wor Por SrisaketTKO2, 2:4022 Aug 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Saengkeng Saknarong1, 0:5017 Jun 2014Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Exhibition boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
10–0 Naoya Inoue311 Feb 2021Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanNon-scored bout