Donaire awaits WBA decision
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Nov 2025
The WBA may elevate the fight between interim bantamweight titleholder Nonito Donaire, Jr. and champion in-recess Seiya Tsutsumi at the Kokugikan Arena, Tokyo, on Dec. 17 to a battle for the “super” 118-pound throne. The winner of the Donaire-Tsutsumi bout will be WBA “regular” beltholder Antonio Vargas’ next opponent.
“It’s possible the WBA will make it a ‘super’ championship fight,” said Donaire’s father-in-law and security chief Gerry Marcial in a call from Las Vegas. “This will be Nonito’s third fight in Japan after two bouts against (Naoya) Inoue. In the first Inoue fight, a ringside seat went for $500 and in the second, $1,500. Nonito has a big following in Japan and will go all out to give the fans a treat.”
Donaire, wife Rachel and their two sons arrived in Cebu from Las Vegas to open training camp a week ago. It’s his second camp in Cebu after the Alejandro Santiago fight in 2023. He’s training with Doc J Junco at the Omega Gym. Donaire plans to leave for Tokyo two weeks before the fight.
“Tsutsumi is a volume puncher and Nonito will know how to deal with him,” said Marcial. “I expect Tsutsumi to go down like (Fernando) Montiel. He’s not as experienced as Nonito and his style is like Andres Campos whom Nonito beat on a technical decision for the interim belt last June. Campos kept coming in with his head and caused the cut from a butt that stopped the fight. Nonito would’ve knocked him out if it went on.”
Donaire will celebrate his 43rd birthday in Cebu on Nov. 16 and Marcial said age won’t be a disadvantage against the 29-year-old Tsutsumi whose record is 12-0-3, with eight KOs, compared to the Filipino Flash’s 43-8, with 28 KOs. “Walang tigil ang training,” said Marcial. “He’s older now but he’s still in top shape and the power is intact. He’s bigger than Tsutsumi and that will be an advantage.” Donaire stands 5-7 with a 68 1/2 reach while Tsutsumi is 5-5 1/2 with a 64 1/2 wingspan.
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