In a thrilling all-Japanese showdown that kept the crowd on the edge of its seats for all 12 rounds at Tokyo’s Kokugikan Arena, Riku Masuda captured the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight world championship with a hard-fought split decision victory over former world champion Daigo Higa. It was a high-level battle where speed, timing, and precision ultimately proved to be the difference.

The razor-thin nature of the contest was reflected in the scorecards after 36 intense minutes of action. Two judges favored Masuda by identical scores of 117-111, while the third saw Higa edging the fight 115-113, awarding the championship to the tall southpaw.

Masuda looked to capitalize on his height and reach advantage from the opening bell, pumping a long right jab and firing his dangerous left hand from mid-range to keep Higa at bay. But the former champion lived up to his reputation as one of Japan’s toughest warriors, relentlessly pressing forward, closing the distance, and ripping heavy hooks to the body along with looping shots upstairs that repeatedly tested the young contender’s resolve.

As the fight wore on, Masuda’s sharp counterpunching and superior accuracy gradually shifted the momentum in his favor. Despite the constant pressure applied by the battle-tested Okinawan at close range, the 28-year-old southpaw remained composed, moved smoothly around the ring, and landed the cleaner, more effective combinations against a relentless Higa who refused to take a backward step.

With the signature victory in Japan’s capital, Riku Masuda claims the prestigious black-and-gold WBA bantamweight title, securing the biggest win of his professional career and cementing himself as one of Asia’s brightest rising stars in 2026.