WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa will face Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes in his hometown of Naha, Okinawa, in February, officials of his Shirai Gushiken Sports gym officially announced on Tuesday.
Higa will be looking to equal a Japanese record of 15 consecutive knockouts held by Tsuyoshi Hamada when he meets the 10th-ranked Fuentes at Okinawa Prefectural Budokan on Feb. 4 in his second title defense.
“I wanted to fight in Okinawa one day and the time has finally come. I’m filled with happiness,” the 22-year-old Higa said.
Higa is undefeated with a 14-0 record, all fights won by knockout.
Fuentes (25-4-1, 14 KOs) is a former WBO minimumweight world champion.
IN OTHER NEWS: THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY returns with a special year-in-review edition WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Hosted by the four-time Sports Emmy® winner, who has hosted HBO Boxing since joining the network in 1988, the show is a provocative, engaging and informative experience that delves into intriguing storylines, newsmakers and issues that are top-of-mind in boxing.
The show is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.
On this edition of THE FIGHT GAME: Lampley reviews the year’s sights and sounds in the ring; Max Kellerman joins Lampley in studio to discuss 2017 developments and look ahead to 2018; and former light heavyweight champ Andre Ward discusses life in retirement and reflects on other significant retirements from the sport. Also featured: the sixth annual boxing achievement awards, including Fight of the Year, Fighter of the Year, Person of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Emanuel Steward Trainer of the Year, and the year-end top ten pound-for-pound rankings.
Immediately following the show’s debut on Dec. 27, fight fans can log on to hbo.com for an exclusive overtime segment hosted by Lampley.
The popular "New England's Future" series, promoted by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), returns with its fifth installment on Saturday night, February 10, at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Undefeated Hartford (CT) prospect Richard "Popeye The Sailor Man" Rivera (5-0, 4 KOs) takes on Kevin "KRAY 2 UNKL" Cobbs (10-2, 4 KOs) for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) New England title in the eight-round main event.
Rivera, 27, was a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion. The entertaining Rivera is coming off a sensational second-round knockout of 146-fight veteran Roberto Valenzuela this past Dec. 9 in Hampton, New Hampshire.
