Vargas vs Higa

Who won Vargas vs Higa?

Antonio Vargas drew with Daigo Higa by on Wednesday, July 30th, 2025, at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama.

The scorecards were announced as 113-113, 113-113, 113-113, meaning it was a .

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which meant the weight limit was 118 pounds (8.4 stone or 53.5 kg).

This contest was for the WBA bantamweight championship of the world.

Vargas was making his 2nd defense of the WBA World Bantamweight Championship. He was promoted from a secondary belt in May 2025. He has held this belt for a total of 89 days (2 months and 28 days).

This fight appeared on the undercard of Kenshiro Teraji losing to Ricardo Rafael Sandoval for the WBC World Flyweight and WBA World Flyweight championship. Also on the undercard Erick Rosa lost to Kyosuke Takami for the WBA World Light Flyweight belt.

Vargas vs Higa stats

Antonio Vargas stepped 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 made 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 suggested Higa had a massive power advantage over Vargas, boasting a 90% knockout percentage compared to Vargas' 58%.

Antonio Vargas was the younger man by 1 year, at 29 years old.

Vargas had a height advantage of 2 inches over Higa. That also extended to a 1-inch reach advantage.

Both Antonio Vargas and Daigo Higa fought out of an orthodox stance.

Vargas was 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 had fought 48 fewer professional rounds, totaling 112 compared to Higa's 160.

Daigo Higa was ranked number 2 by the WBA, and 13 by the WBO in the 118lb division.

Vargas vs Higa form

Vargas had beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 3 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Winston Guerrero on December 13, 2024, by technical knockout in the 10th round at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, United States.

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.

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 had stopped 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had drawn with Seiya Tsutsumi on February 24, 2025, by unanimous draw in their 12 round contest at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Japan.

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.

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.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Antonio Vargas had been fighting more than Daigo Higa.

Going into this contest, Antonio Vargas had last fought 7 months and 17 days ago, while Daigo Higa's last outing had been 5 months and 6 days ago.

Vargas' last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 5 months and 5 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 5 months and 26 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 36 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 7.2 rounds on average.

Higa's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 9 months and 4 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 11 months and 13 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 43 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 8.6 rounds on average.

What time did Vargas vs Higa start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 10:45 AM UTC at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama, Japan, which was 6:45 AM EST or 3:45 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 11:45 AM BST in the UK.

Who broadcast Vargas vs Higa?

Vargas vs Higa was broadcast on DAZN in both the United States and the UK.

What were the odds on Vargas vs Higa?

Antonio Vargas was a 9/4 (+230) underdog going into the contest, while Daigo Higa made his way into the ring at 2/5 (-250) with oddsmakers.