Riku Masuda, the 28-year-old southpaw, secured the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title on Monday, July 20, 2026, with a narrow split decision victory over 30-year-old former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa. The highly anticipated 12-round contest unfolded before a crowd of 7,500 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan, marking a significant moment for the Japanese boxing scene.
Masuda’s triumph, improving his professional record to 11 wins and one loss with nine knockouts, places him firmly at the top of the bantamweight division. For Higa, the defeat extends a challenging winless streak, bringing his record to 21 wins, four losses, and three draws, despite a valiant effort.
Masuda’s tactical adjustments secure bantamweight belt
The championship bout saw WBA number one contender Riku Masuda take on the WBA number two ranked Daigo Higa for the coveted 118lb belt. Both fighters weighed in at 117.75 pounds, promising a fiercely competitive encounter from the opening bell.
Masuda, with a notable three-inch height and five-inch reach advantage, initially struggled against Higa’s elusive peek-a-boo infighting style. Higa, a veteran who debuted in 2014, aimed to nullify Masuda’s renowned power in the early rounds of the fight.
Overcoming Higa’s early aggression
Higa’s defensive tactics and tricky aggression proved partly successful in the initial stages, creating difficulties for Masuda to land cleanly. He threw more combinations, but many lacked the necessary impact to sway the judges definitively.
But the younger Masuda, who began his professional career in 2022, demonstrated his ability to adapt. He systematically began to decode Higa’s strategy, focusing on landing more effective and legal shots, particularly as the fight wore on.
Second-half dominance for Masuda
As the hard-fought bout progressed into its later rounds, Masuda found his rhythm, steadily out-punching his fading opponent. His effective striking, especially in the second half, proved crucial in swaying the judges in his favour.
The ability to adjust and maintain pressure against a seasoned opponent ultimately secured the WBA bantamweight title for Masuda. This resilience highlights a significant step forward in his promising career.
Judges deliver split decision amidst contention
The official scorecards painted a picture of a competitive, yet sometimes divisive, contest. Judges Katsuhiro Nakamura and Nobuto Ikehara both scored the fight 117-111 in favour of Riku Masuda, indicating a clear margin on their cards.
However, judge Pinit Prayadsab saw the fight differently, scoring it 115-113 for Daigo Higa. This split decision reflects the subjective nature of boxing judging, even in high-stakes championship bouts overseen by referee Luis Pabon.
Contrasting perspectives on round wins
The 117-111 scores suggest Masuda won at least nine rounds, while the 115-113 score implies a much closer contest, with Higa potentially winning five rounds. This disparity underscores the differing views on effective aggression versus consistent output.
It’s not uncommon for fighters with different styles to elicit varied scoring, especially when one is countering and the other is leading the action. The final verdict, however, went to the fighter who landed the more telling blows down the stretch.
Daigo Higa’s career struggles continue
For Daigo Higa, this defeat marks another chapter in a challenging period for the former WBC flyweight titleholder. Once considered a formidable force with a 90% knockout percentage, Higa has faced significant hurdles in recent years.
He entered the Masuda fight on a four-fight winless streak, a stark contrast to his earlier career success. This difficult run began as far back as December 31, 2023, showcasing the relentless grind of professional boxing.
A difficult road to this title shot
Higa’s path to challenging for the vacant WBA bantamweight title was fraught with setbacks. Before Monday’s bout, he had fought two consecutive draws in 2025, halting his momentum and raising questions about his future.
One of these draws was against Antonio Vargas on July 30, 2025, for the WBA World Bantamweight championship in Yokohama, Japan. The other came against Seiya Tsutsumi on February 24, 2025, in Tokyo, adding a layer of complexity to the division.
Previous championship aspirations stalled
Prior to these draws, Higa suffered a unanimous decision loss to Yoshiki Takei on September 3, 2024, in a bid for the WBO World Bantamweight championship. These results suggest a fighter battling to rediscover his championship form after a dominant run as WBC flyweight champion from 2017 to 2018.
Higa had even contemplated retirement, only to be drawn back by the allure of this marquee matchup orchestrated by promoter Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions. Despite his best efforts, his attempt to reclaim championship status ultimately fell short.
WBA’s convoluted bantamweight championship landscape
The fight for the “regular” WBA bantamweight belt highlights a persistent issue within the World Boxing Association regarding its title structure. The title became vacant after Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez was elevated to “super champion” status.
Additionally, Seiya Tsutsumi was designated “champion in recess” due to an injury, further fragmenting the championship picture. This multi-title approach has drawn criticism from figures like WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, who has previously acknowledged it as a broken promise.
Multiple champions dilute division clarity
Having a “super champion,” a “regular champion,” and a “champion in recess” in the same weight class can create confusion for fans and fighters alike. It muddies the waters of who the true lineal champion is and what each title signifies within the division.
This structure often necessitates unification bouts to bring clarity, but those can be complex to negotiate. The WBA’s practice stands in contrast to the cleaner, single-champion model favoured by many purists, as seen in promotions featuring Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight title defenses.
A tripleheader of title action in Tokyo
The Masuda-Higa clash wasn’t the only high-stakes encounter at the Kokugikan Arena. The event was part of a tripleheader promoted by Teiken Promotions, showcasing some of Japan’s top boxing talent.
This concentrated schedule of championship bouts provided a thrilling night for the Tokyo crowd, reaffirming the city’s status as a major hub for international boxing. Fans in Japan could watch the event on U-NEXT, with Disney+ streaming it internationally, though American and other worldwide broadcasters remained unconfirmed.
Undercard delivers significant results
In a significant co-main event, Kenshiro Teraji (26-2, 16 KOs) defeated Israel Gonzalez (32-6-2, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision. Teraji clinched the vacant WBO junior bantamweight (115lb) belt, making him a three-weight world champion, after scoring two crucial knockdowns.
Judges scored Teraji’s victory 117-109, 116-110, and 115-111, reflecting his dominant performance. Another compelling fight saw Shokichi Iwata (17-2, 14 KOs) retain his WBC junior flyweight belt, defeating Erik Badillo (19-1, 8 KOs) by 11th-round knockout in his first defense.
What’s next for the new WBA bantamweight champion?
With the WBA bantamweight title now firmly in his grasp, Riku Masuda has already set his sights on his next challenge. The newly crowned champion expressed a clear ambition: to face WBA champion in recess Seiya Tsutsumi.
Masuda aims to avenge his sole professional career setback against Tsutsumi. This potential matchup would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated clash, offering both a unification opportunity and a chance for Masuda to erase his only loss.
A unified future for bantamweight?
A fight between Masuda and Tsutsumi would bring much-needed clarity to the WBA’s bantamweight division, potentially consolidating two of its three current champions. Such a bout would captivate boxing fans, especially in Japan, given both fighters’ history and standing.
Teiken Promotions will likely work to make this fight a reality, capitalising on Masuda’s fresh title win and the built-in narrative of a rematch. It promises to be a pivotal contest in defining the true king of the WBA’s 118lb landscape.
