Donaire awaits WBA order
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 30 Dec 2025
Nonito Donaire, Jr. has emailed the WBA regarding his recent split decision loss to Seiya Tsutsumi in Tokyo and is awaiting a reaction after the holidays to address the contentious outcome. The WBA has yet to update its ratings and the expectation is Donaire will be installed the No. 1 contender. At the moment, the No. 1 slot is vacant.
“I’ve emailed the WBA (but) with the holidays, I’m not sure when we will hear back,” said Donaire’s wife Rachel. “Nonito watched the fight (on video) today and we believe he did enough to win.” Rachel quoted Compubox’ assessment of the fight: “Donaire, the effective aggressor and harder shot-for-shot hitter, was more active (59.7 punches per round to Tsutsumi’s 54.3) and prevailed, 79-64 in landed power shots as well as 29%-22% in power accuracy.”
The win reinstated Tsutsumi, previously in-recess, as WBA bantamweight champion. The scorecards reflected a stark disparity. Thai judge Pinit Prayadsab saw it 115-113 for Tsutsumi while US judge Robert Hoyle had it 116-112 for Donaire. Polish judge Leszek Jankowiak scored it a wide 117-111 for Tsutsumi. Rachel said Jankowiak’s tally was “highly disrespectful” to the sport. Tsutsumi hardly looked like the winner after the bout and underwent surgery for nearly four hours to repair a broken nose and sew up cuts on his face.
“I’m relieved I can still box,” said Tsutsumi on Yahoo Sports. “I was fortunate to fight a great champion. I saw the value of Donaire’s experience as he’s a former five-division champion who is known worldwide.” There were no knockdowns although Tsutsumi was staggered by a right uppercut in the fourth frame, almost going down.
Donaire, 43, didn’t seem as if he was in a tough fight and a few days after the bout, was shown spotless in a family photo shoot wearing a Japanese costume. “I gave everything I had in the ring and I left with my head held high,” he said. “While the scorecards didn’t reflect how I thought the fight unfolded, I’m grateful for the opportunity and proud of the work.” Tsutsumi is now lined up to face titlist in-recess Antonio Vargas but if he’s unable to fight within a prescribed period because of injuries from the Donaire bout, it’s possible the WBA will order a match between the Filipino Flash and Vargas for the interim crown.
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