Tsutsumi and Higa Fight to Another Draw

On February 24 in Tokyo, Japan, a thrilling battle for the WBA bantamweight title (118 lbs / 53.5 kg) ended in a dramatic draw. Champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-3, 8 КОs) defended his belt against Daigo Higa (21-3-2, 19 KOs), with all three judges scoring the bout 114-114.

The fight featured wild momentum swings, particularly in the ninth round, where Tsutsumi was knocked down—only for Higa to hit the canvas moments later in the same round.

This was Tsutsumi’s first title defense after capturing the belt in his previous bout against Takuma Inoue, the younger brother of Naoya Inoue. Meanwhile, for Higa, this fight marked his return after a decision loss to Yoshiki Takei.

This was the second time Tsutsumi and Higa have shared the ring. Their first encounter in 2020 also ended in a draw, proving that their rivalry remains as fiercely contested as ever.