Bookmakers made Daigo Higa a favorite against Antonio Vargas when they square off in their contest on Wednesday 30th July 2025 at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama, Japan.
He is currently 1/2 (-200) to win the contest outright, while you can get 29/20 (+150) on Antonio Vargas if you fancy the small upset.
That means that oddsmakers think there is 63% chance of Higa winning while giving Vargas a 37% chance.
Higa opened as the favorite at 11/20 (-180) however, that price has now got wider by -19/20 (+110).
Vargas opened at 29/20 (+150).
The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which means both fighters will have to make the weight limit of 118 pounds (8.26 stones or 53.64 kg) on the day of the weigh-in.
This contest is for the WBA bantamweight championship of the world.
Vargas vs Higa Head To Head
Antonio Vargas steps into the ring with a record of 19 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, 11 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
Daigo Higa will make his way to the ring with a record of 21 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, with 19 of those wins by knockout.
The stats suggest Higa has a massive power advantage over Vargas, boasting a 90% knockout percentage compared to Vargas' 58%.
Antonio Vargas is the younger man by 1 year, at 28 years old.
Vargas has a height advantage of 2 inches over Higa. This also extends to a 1-inch reach advantage.
Both Antonio Vargas and Daigo Higa fight out of an orthodox stance.
Vargas is the less experienced professional fighter, having had 6 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2017, 2 years and 8 months later than Higa, whose first professional fight was in 2014. He has fought 48 fewer professional rounds, totaling 100 compared to Higa's 148.
Antonio Vargas goes into the fight ranked number 10 by The Ring at bantamweight.
Daigo Higa is currently ranked number 2 by the WBA, 5 by the WBC, 12 by the WBO, and 5 by The Ring in the 118lb division.
Vargas vs Higa betting form
Vargas has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 3 of them, going the distance once.
In his last fight, he won against Winston Guerrero on December 13, 2024, by technical knockout in the 10th round at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, United States. He was a 7/25 (-360) favorite going into the ring.
Prior to that, he had won against Jonathan Rodriguez on February 24, 2024, by technical knockout in the 7th round at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando. He was a 4/9 (-230) favorite going into the ring.
Going into that contest, he had beaten Hernan Marquez on October 27, 2023, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando.
Before that, he had beaten Francisco Pedroza on May 12, 2023, by unanimous decision in the 3rd round at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando.
He had defeated Michell Banquez on February 25, 2023, by technical knockout in the 6th round at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando.
Daigo Higa has stopped 2 of his last 5 opponents.
In his last fight, he drew Seiya Tsutsumi on February 24, 2025, by unanimous draw in their 12 round contest at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Japan. He was a 5/2 (+250) underdog going into the contest.
Prior to that, he had been beaten by Yoshiki Takei on September 3, 2024, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Bantamweight championship fight at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku. He was a 3/1 (+300) underdog going into the contest.
Going into that contest, he had won against Nawaphon Kaikanha on December 31, 2023, by knockout in the 4th round at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.
Before that, he had defeated Yuki Strong Kobayashi on December 31, 2020, by knockout in the 5th round at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.
He had drawn with Seiya Tsutsumi on October 26, 2020, by majority draw in their 10 round contest at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.
Who's been more active?
If you think ring rust and activity is a big factor in this fight, Antonio Vargas has been fighting more than Daigo Higa.
Antonio Vargas last fought 7 months and 17 days ago, while Daigo Higa's last outing was 5 months and 6 days ago.
Vargas' last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 5 months and 5 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 5 months and 26 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 36 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 7.2 rounds on average.
Higa's last 5 fights have come over a period of 4 years, 9 months and 4 days, meaning he has been fighting on average every 11 months and 13 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 43 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 8.6 rounds on average.
What’s the Latest Time I Can Bet on Vargas vs Higa Pre Fight?
The fighters are expected to ringwalk at around 11:00 AM UTC at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama, Japan, which is 7:00 AM EST or 4:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 12:00 PM BST in the UK.
