Thomas Masson: European Flyweight Champion
French flyweight Thomas Masson won the European title in 2015 and later challenged WBC champion Daigo Higa in Tokyo. Higa stopped him in the seventh round in October 2017. The French Boxing Federation’s title report and its report on the Higa bout document the key stages of Masson’s career.
European Flyweight Champion
Masson, from the Arras area in northern France, boxed out of Bruay-la-Buissière under coach Joël Legrand. In September 2015, he won the vacant European flyweight title by defeating Silvio Olteanu over 12 rounds. He made his first defense in March 2016, outpointing Spain’s Ángel Moreno by unanimous decision. Contemporary coverage of the defense reported the three judges’ scores as 115–113, 117–111 and 117–111.
Challenge Against Daigo Higa
In October 2017, Masson traveled to Tokyo to challenge unbeaten WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa. The French Boxing Federation listed Masson at 17 wins, three losses and one draw before the bout, and identified him as the reigning European champion. Higa dropped him in the sixth round and stopped him in the seventh after Masson suffered a cut near his right eye.
A Career Defined by Championship Fights
Masson’s record shows title-level competition at both European and world level. His European championship win over Olteanu established him as a leading flyweight in France; the Higa challenge brought him to the WBC world-title stage. He became one of the few French flyweights of his generation to hold the European belt and challenge for a WBC world championship.
Sources
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
