Seiya Tsutsumi and Nonito Donaire have finally learned the exact stakes for their forthcoming clash.
A ratings swap has resulted in the restoration of Tsutsumi’s full WBA 118lbs reign, while previous claimant Antonio Vargas was downgraded to “Champion in Recess.” With the move, Tsutsumi’s December 17 meeting with Donaire now becomes a title consolidation clash.
Donaire, 43-8 (28 KOs) still holds the interim version of the belt; his title status was unaffected by the most recent WBA ratings update. However, he will now challenge for Tsutsumi’s higher tier belt atop a title fight tripleheader from the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.
Vargas was the previously recognized full titlist. He was upgraded from interim beltholder after Tsutsumi was physically unable to honor an imposed deadline for their ordered title consolidation clash. The same dilemma left Vargas unable to proceed with the match, just in time for Tsutsumi to reclaim his belt and defend against a legendary former four-division champ.
Tsutsumi, 12-0-3 (8 KOs) previously held the fully version of the WBA title, which he won in a thrilling 12-round, points victory over Takuma Inoue last October 12 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena. The unbeaten 29-year-old made one successful defense, in a rare unanimous draw verdict with countryman and former flyweight titlist Daigo Higa. All three judges scored their February 24 contest at 114-114, six rounds apiece to produce the stalemate.
Vargas, 19-1-1 (11 KOs) was the interim titlist in waiting at the time, whom Tsutsumi was immediately ordered to next face. However, lingering injuries from the hard-fought battle with Higa left Tsutsumi unable to honor that request within the proposed WBA deadline, which resulted in his briefly relinquishing the title in exchange for “Champion in Recess” status.
The significance of the designation is that it gives boxers power to immediately challenge for their old title once they are officially cleared to resume their career.
Tsutsumi did just that, immediately after Vargas’ own draw verdict with Higa on July 30 in Yokohama.
The bout marked Vargas’ lone title defense after his reign was upgraded, though he in turn is no longer able to honor his mandatory title defense. The 29-year-old from Kissimmee, Florida – who represented the U.S. in the 2016 Rio Olympics – withdrew from the proceedings due to the unfortunate passing of his mother.
The WBA sympathized with his emotional state, as Vargas is now afforded the same privileges that led Tsutsumi to reclaim his old belt.
Donaire claimed the interim belt in a technical unanimous decision over Andres Campos on June 14 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The fight was put together on short notice, as means for the WBA to have Donaire participate in its annual “KO to Drugs” festival.
Donaire previously held true major titles at flyweight, bantamweight, junior featherweight and featherweight. The future Hall of Famer from Las Vegas by way of the Philippines has already twice set the record as the oldest bantamweight champion.
The mark was first set when he defeated Ryan Burnett to win the WBA 118lbs title in November 2018, just two weeks shy of his 36th birthday. Donaire surpassed countryman Gerry Penalosa to claim the honor, and then broke his own record 30 months later when he knocked out unbeaten Nordine Oubaali in May 2021 to win the WBC 118lbs title.
A win over Tsutsumi will not only see Donaire rewrite history, but join a very intimate list of boxers who claimed a major title at age 40 or older. Donaire recently celebrated his 43rd birthday.
Tsutsumi is listed as -275 betting favorite according to bet365 to retain his title.
