Yoshiki Takei enjoyed his title win in every way but one.
The absence of a knockout left the reigning WBO bantamweight title holder just shy of fully satisfied. The undefeated Yokohama native hopes to resume that run, even against longtime friend and former flyweight titlist Daigo Higa.
Their scheduled 12-round bout takes place on Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Takei-Higa is the headliner for the Naoya Inoue-TJ Doheny RING/undisputed 122-pound championship. Both games will air live on ESPN+ beginning at 5:45 a.m. ET.
Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) is attempting the first defense of the title he claimed in a decision victory over Australia’s Jason Moloney. In their match on May 6, Takei survived a near disastrous 12th round to win by scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 116-111. It was the first distance fight of his young career.
“I won that fight in May, but I couldn’t get the knockout. Sorry, Daigo, but it’s coming on Tuesday,” Takei promised during the final pre-fight press conference. “I cannot predict the exact end of the fight. I plan to fight from my preferred distance and land the type of punches that drop him.”
Takei had just two fights go beyond the third round before his first career title bid. His longest fight to that point was an 11th round stoppage of Bruno Tarimo in December 2022.
Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs) has only suffered one career stoppage loss. It came on a night when he missed at heavyweight and saw his title reign come to an end. Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales reaped the rewards in an April 2018 ninth-round knockout to win the WBC flyweight title.
The only other loss for Higa, 29, was a points loss in April 2021 to Ryosuke Nishida (9-0, 1 KO), now the IBF bantamweight titleholder. He enters this game having won his past four starts, including back-to-back wins in the fourth round in 2023.
Both fighters were cordial in the other’s presence. The only difference, however, is that the defending title refused to buy into the friendly act.
“This is the first time we’ve met face to face since the fight was announced,” Takei noted. “He’s smiling as always. I try my best not to be fooled by it. I want to be in control and definitely win this fight.”
