Yoshiki Takei vs. Daigo Higa: Full video highlightsÂ
Yoshiki Takei engaged in a thrilling 12-round battle against Daigo Higa on the undercard of the Naoya Inoue vs. TJ Doheny event in Tokyo, Japan. The fight proved to be a high-octane clash between two fierce competitors who laid it all on the line.
Check out some of the video highlights from the clash:
Both fighters set the tone for a highly competitive fight
The Japanese boxers set the tone for the fight with wild exchanges in the opening frame. Takei leveraged his reach advantage to control the distance, while Higa was relentless in his pursuit to suffocate his rival. The challenger constantly pressed forward, looking for opportunities to land powerful hooks.
Higa retaliates with fierce resolve
In the subsequent rounds, Higa pushed deeper and managed to trap Takei against the ropes in the fourth round. He unleashed multiple combinations in the pocket that hurt his opponent. Takei, however, remained composed, slipping and countering with crisp shots of his own.
From there, Higa continued to press the action, but Takei's defense and counter-punching kept him in the fight. The champion took over in the subsequent rounds, eating Higa's shots well while landing powerful counters of his own.
Check out some of the action from the mid-rounds below:
Both fighters refuse to yield ground
In the ninth round, the pair engaged in phonebooth warfare, digging shots to the body. Takei's jab proved to be a useful weapon in the later rounds. The high-octane clash took a toll on both fighters as they were forced to dig deep to get the better of their opponent.
Check out the videos below:
Takei seals the win with a spectacular display in the last round
Both fighters met in the center of the ring to kick off the final round. Takei proved why he's the champion, tapping into his reserves to push for strong combinations in the final frame. He hurt Higa multiple times and secured a strong finish to get the nod from the judges.
In the end, the judges scored the contest 115-112 & 114-113, and 114-113 in favor of the Takei.
Check out the final round action below: