Daigo Higa said becoming the WBC flyweight champion last month has given him more to fight for as he resumed training on Friday.

“Becoming a world champion has given me more goals,” Higa, who scored a sixth-round technical knockout of Mexican Juan Hernandez on May 20, told a news conference. “I want my name to be more widely recognized.”

Higa, who has a record of 13-0 (13 knockouts), picked fighting WBA fly champion Kazuto Ioka in a unification bout and claiming the national record of 15 straight KOs as two targets he is looking to achieve.

Higa, 21, was given a hero’s welcome in his native Okinawa after his title win and a victory parade was held for him in Miyakojima.

“Lots of people congratulated me and it (becoming champion) really sunk in,” he said.

Higa’s gym chief Yoko Gushiken said, “I was delighted and watched it (Higa’s title fight) on video over 50 times. There are a lot of people looking forward to it so I want to get him to fight Ioka.”

Higa’s first title defense is scheduled to be held before the end of the year.

IN OTHER NEWS: Uruguay celebrated a very special and historic triumph, via the victories of Amilcar Vidal and Victor Rodriguez, two of the five winners of the MERCOSUR "José Sulaimán" amateur tournament, who fought brilliantly in an exhibition at The Monument of The Revolution, Mexico City.



Their victories signal a new milestone for the people of Uruguay, as for 53 years no Uruguayan amateur boxer had won a victory outside South America. The Uruguayan Commission made this known, with an emotional letter of thanks that was sent to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaimán.



The Uruguayan boxers came to Mexico City to train at the CENAR high performance center, where they have been coached and guided by boxing experts, who are polishing their technique and burnishing their skills.