Former world champion Daigo Higa will be tested by newcomer Riku Masuda with his devastating knockout (KO) power for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight (53.5kg) world championship belt in Tokyo, Japan, on July 20.
"Higa and Masuda will meet in a high-stakes all-Japanese bout that promises to be a spectacular spectacle," the WBA said in a statement on its official website, as monitored in Jakarta on Friday.
Higa comes with a track record as a former World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight (50.8kg) world champion and proven experience in fighting that also opens up the opportunity to win another world title.
The 30-year-old Okinawan has built his reputation through thrilling performances and enters the upcoming bout on the back of back-to-back draws against elite opponents like Seiya Tsutsumi and Antonio Vargas.
With a record of 21 wins (19 KOs), three losses, and three draws, Higa is determined to reclaim his world title.
He is expected to come out with constant pressure from the opening bell, avoiding Masuda's jab with upper body movement, and using his signature hooks to the body in an attempt to drag his younger opponent into close-range exchanges.
