Nonito Donaire’s title bid denied in close loss to Seiya Tsutsumi

Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire fell just short of capturing the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title after a narrow split-decision loss to Seiya Tsutsumi on Wednesday evening at Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Two judges scored the bout 115-113 and 117-111 in favor of Tsutsumi, while the third had it 116-112 for Donaire. The result ended Donaire’s reign as WBA interim champion and marked Tsutsumi’s first successful defense in his second stint as the division’s titleholder.

“His left hook was [strong],” Tsutsumi said through a translator in his postfight interview. “It was kind of fun [to come back in the latter rounds]. I’ve become used to it.”

Donaire controlled the early rounds behind a sharp jab and straight right, briefly stunning Tsutsumi late in the fourth with a heavy right hand. The Japanese fighter regrouped and gradually gained momentum in the middle rounds, landing cleaner power shots.

The exchanges intensified late, with Tsutsumi’s punches proving more telling in rounds 10 and 11. Both fighters traded blows until the final bell in the 12th, but Tsutsumi closed strong to secure the nod.

Donaire—who holds the distinction of being the oldest bantamweight world champion at 38 years old—dropped to 43-9, while Tsutsumi kept his unbeaten record intact at 13-0-3.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News