Daigo Higa suspended indefinitely for failing to make weight

[Ruthless-RKO]

The Japan Boxing Commission announced Wednesday that Daigo Higa’s license has been suspended indefinitely following his failure to make weight for a world title bout earlier this month.

Higa was stripped of his World Boxing Council flyweight belt on April 14, the eve of his defense against Cristofer Rosales of Nicaragua, after exceeding the weight limit by 900 grams. It was the first time a Japanese boxer had failed to make weight for a world title fight.

The JBC said it will consider lifting Higa’s suspension based on periodic reports of the boxer’s condition. He was fined 20 percent of the purse and will be required to move up a weight class if he is reinstated.

“Because this incident caused major damage to the boxing world, we handed down a heavy punishment,” said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, the JBC secretary general.

“On the other hand, since (Higa) is an athlete who is admired in the boxing world, we also thought about how we can help him.”

The head of Higa’s gym, former fighter and International Boxing Hall of Famer Yoko Gushiken, was also admonished for the oversight.

The WBC and both camps agreed to proceed with the bout under the condition Rosales would take the belt with a win, while the title would be vacated in the case of a draw or a Higa victory.

Rosales was crowned the new champion after winning with a ninth-round technical knockout. The 22-year-old Higa, who was attempting to set a Japanese record of 16 straight knockouts, now stands at 15 wins and one loss.

[Ruthless-RKO]

First Luis Nery and now one of their own..

[jamamb]

there just salty over him coming to japan and beating the hometown boy rosales

oh wait

[gilgamesh]

Damn JBC is pretty strict.

Higa probably don't come in overweight no more in his career though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Damn JBC is pretty strict.

Higa probably don't come in overweight no more in his career though.

He'll need to move up in weight if it's re-instated.

[gilgamesh]

Damn JBC is pretty strict.

Higa probably don't come in overweight no more in his career though.

He'll need to move up in weight if it's re-instated.

That probably would've been the case suspension or no suspension. 9 times out of 10 when a guy fails to make weight he moves up to the next weight class of his own accord.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Former world flyweight titleholder Daigo Higa returned to the ring Thursday night, stopping Jason Buenaobra in round 6 at the famed Korakuen Hall in his hometown of Tokyo, Japan.

With the victory, Higa improves to 16-1, 16 knockouts.

Higa was fighting for the first time in almost two years, when he was stopped by Nicaragua’s Cristofer Rosales in April 2018. Higa was defending his WBC flyweight title, but was stripped of the title the day before at the weigh-in when he was two pounds over the limit of 112 pounds.

The 24-year-old broke the taller Buenaobra down from the opening bell. The southpaw Buenaobra was game, but the stronger Higa continued to walk him down with each passing round.

Higa continued to batter Buenaobra during the middle rounds, weakening him with each barrage of punches. Several combinations from Higa in round six prompted referee Yuki Fukuchi at 2:25.

Both fighters weighed in at 118.75 pounds for the fight and it would be interesting to see whether Higa would remain and fight as a bantamweight or drop down in weight and compete at 115 pounds.

Buenaobra, who resides in Manila in the Philippines, drops to 7-5-3, 3 KOs.

From Boxing Scene

[Enlightened-One]

I don’t know enough about the JBC to possess a worthwhile opinion, but they do seem to be the sort of governing body that abides by their rules and regulations rather strictly, which I feel is a very good thing.

So if a fighter fails weight or fails a PED test, it’s considered a serious matter and the corresponding punishments that are dealt are much more severe than other jurisdictions, such as the US or the UK.

Maybe I’m wrong about this, since my opinion is based on only a few examples.