Donaire back in Cebu
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Jan 2026
Former four-division world champion and WBA No. 1 bantamweight Nonito Donaire, Jr. is back in Cebu training at Omega Boxing Gym’s Camp Kumbati while awaiting confirmation of his next fight. There’s nothing definite on the table but with Donaire setting up camp in Cebu, the speculation is an offer may come soon to fight in Japan. The Filipino Flash arrived in Cebu from Las Vegas early this week.
Donaire, 43, was in Tokyo a month ago to face WBA bantamweight titlist Seiya Tsutsumi and lost on a disputed split 12-round decision. Tsutsumi landed in the hospital where he underwent a four-hour surgery to repair a broken nose and sew up cuts on his face. WBA officials apparently reviewed the fight video and kept Donaire as the No. 1 contender.
It may take several months before Tsutsumi is able to fight again, if at all. Texas-born 2016 Olympian Antonio Vargas is the interim WBA bantamweight champion so while Tsutsumi is in recovery, Donaire may be tapped to face him. Vargas’ most recent outing was in Yokohama last July when he fought Daigo Higa to a draw. A duel between Vargas and Donaire in Japan isn’t a remote possibility.
There are five Japanese bantamweights in WBA’s top 10 so pitting any of them against Donaire in Japan is an option. The five are No. 2 Higa, No. 3 Yoshiki Takei, No. 4 Riku Masuda, No. 6 Kazuto Ioka and No. 10 Ryosuke Nishida. WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue will meet Ioka in a title defense in Tokyo on May 2 so that rules out the challenger as an opponent for Donaire. Higa, a former WBC flyweight champion, is a suitable candidate considering his last two fights ended in a draw with Vargas and Tsutsumi. Whoever steps up to the plate, Donaire will be locked and loaded to give it his all.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
Sat, 14 Mar 2026Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 14 Mar 2026Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
Sat, 14 Mar 2026