Riku Masuda and Daigo Higa Set for WBA Bantamweight World Title Showdown – World Boxing Association

Tokyo will play host to an all-Japanese blockbuster on Monday, July 20, as rising knockout artist Riku Masuda and former world champion Daigo Higa collide for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Bantamweight World Championship in a high-stakes clash that promises fireworks.

Riku Masuda (10-1, 9 KOs) enters the biggest fight of his career riding a wave of momentum and carrying the status of betting favorite thanks to his devastating punching power. The hard-hitting southpaw earned his title opportunity with a spectacular stoppage victory over legendary former champion Nonito Donaire in a WBA title eliminator. Standing 5-foot-9 with a remarkable 90 percent knockout ratio, the 20-year-old standout will look to dictate the pace behind a long, accurate jab, capitalize on sharp counterpunching opportunities, and use his youth, reach, and explosive power to neutralize Higa’s relentless pressure.

Across the ring, Daigo Higa (21-3-3, 19 KOs) brings championship pedigree and battle-tested experience into another world title opportunity. The 30-year-old Okinawan warrior has built his reputation through thrilling performances and enters this bout after back-to-back draws against elite opposition in Seiya Tsutsumi and Antonio Vargas. Determined to reclaim a world championship, Higa is expected to apply constant pressure from the opening bell, slip Masuda’s jab with upper-body movement, and work his trademark hooks to the body in an effort to drag the younger man into close-range exchanges.

For Masuda, the blueprint is clear: maintain discipline, control distance, and avoid getting drawn into a firefight on the inside. Higa, meanwhile, must absorb the incoming fire early, cut off the ring effectively, and break down the favorite’s legs and stamina if he hopes to reclaim world championship glory.