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Boxing
Former world champion retires aged 29 after falling agonisingly short in latest title bid
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Japanese star Daigo Higa has announced his retirement after just missing out on becoming a two-weight world champion on Wednesday.
Higa, 29, faced America’s Antonio Vargas for the WBA bantamweight title in Yokohama, live on DAZN, and knocked the champion down in the fifth round.
He appeared on course for victory heading into the final round but was sent to the canvas by Vargas and this proved pivotal as the bout was scored a draw by all three judges.
Following the action-packed draw, Higa tearfully announced he was hanging up his gloves at his post-fight press conference.
He finishes with a professional record of 21-3-3 (19).
Higa turned professional in 2014 and won his first world title three years later when he beat Mexico’s Juan Hernandez for the vacant WBC flyweight title.
He made two successful defences of his belt before losing it on the scales ahead of his fight with Cristofer Rosales.
Higa was subsequently stopped by Rosales as he suffered his first professional defeat before moving up in weight.
The all-action Higa would then set his sights on bantamweight gold but was outpointed by his fellow countryman Yoshiki Takei when the WBO title was on the line last year.
He got another shot for the WBA strap against Seiya Tsutsumi in February but the fight was scored a draw.
Ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Vargas, Higa had revealed that he would be calling it quits if he lost in his third attempt at winning a bantamweight title.
Higa almost got his moment of glory in front of his home fans but suffering a final-round knockdown cost him dearly and he has now walked away from the sport for good.
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