Wins WBO Asia Pacific 118lb belt
By Joe Koizumi
Unheralded ex-amateur novice Ryosuke Nishida (4-0, 1 KO), 118, upset former WBC champ Daigo Higa (17-2-1, 17 KOs), 118, by a unanimous decision (117-111 twice, 118-110) over twelve heats and captured his WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight belt on Saturday in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan.
In a homecoming event of the defending champ and prohibitive favorite Higa, an unexpectedly huge upset took place with the taller southpaw rookie effectively outpunching the power-punching champ. Nishida, moving down from the 122-pound category, utilized his physical advantage and effectively had Higa befuddled with the underdog’s aggressiveness from the start.
The 24-year-old ex-university amateur had scored an upset decision over ex-world challenger Shohei Omori in his previous bout. Nishida is worth watching in the future.
Promoter: Ambition Promotions.
Higa’s had a pretty sharp fall from grace.
It’s definitely and upset and awful for Higa, but Nishida might just be the goods. For whatever its worth, he has to be one of the most accomplished 4-0 fighters on the planet.
Thats interesting an “Unheralded ex-amateur novice” would be given a shot at the WBC with just 3 pro fights. And win over 12 rounds against a champion with much more experience. Either the article is exaggerated or this kids a natural.