Seiya Tsutsumi W12 Nonito Donaire In Tokyo over the weekend, Seiya Tsutsumi defeated 43 year-old future Hall of Fame Nonito Donaire to retain WBA bantamweight championship. Tsutsumi won the fight, which was described by many as a war, via split decision. The official scores were 115-113 and 117-111 for Tsutsumi and 116-112 for Donaire. Tsutsumi (13-0-3) became champion last year by defeating Takuma Inoue, who now holds the WBC version of the title. If anything, Donaire, a former four-division champion, added to his legacy with this amazing effort. His record is now 43-9, and although age and the punshment he has taken over the course of his career is a big concern, his skills undeniably remain at the world level. The most dangerous moment for Tsutsumi came in the fourth round, when Donaire rocked him with a powerful right hand that left the champion visibly hurt and unsteady on his legs. Tsutsumi returned to his corner showing clear signs of distress as the crowd held its breath, sensing the possibility of a historic comeback by the Filipino icon. However, the champion responded with resilience and key tactical adjustments.

First and foremost, respect to Seiya Tsutsumi. He came prepared, fought with heart, and shared the ring with me in true warrior spirit. Thank you for the battle and the respect shown throughout fight week and on fight night. I gave everything I had in that ring. I prepared with intention, discipline and pride and I leave with my head held high. While  scorecards don’t reflect how I experienced that fight, I accept the result with professionalism and gratitude for the opportunity to compete at this level. From the heart, I want to thank the people who carried me through this camp. Omega Boxing—Pio Castillo and Paulo—you are the boxing family I always needed. Your belief, guidance, and care mean more to me than I can ever put into words. To my boys, thank you for your patience and for understanding my love for this game. You are my greatest motivation. To Gerry and Becky, thank you for taking care of our boys as if they were your own. Your love and support allowed us to focus and breathe. 

 

To Jelena, an eight-time world champion who remained humble enough to be right there beside me, hitting the bag and pushing me: your time, effort, and example are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. And to SugarHill, thank you for showing me a different perspective and for believing in what I know I am capable of.

 

Diego Bandido, your photos and videos tell a beautiful story—one that captures my deepest and most cherished moments in this sport. Thank you for preserving the memories that words can’t always express. And Fuego, the outfit was absolutely amazing. You made me feel like a king when I stepped out there, and that confidence meant everything. 

 

And to the fans, thank you for your unwavering love, respect, and belief. I stepped into that ring with honor, for my family and for all of you. To me, boxing is growth. When you stop moving, life catches up to you. Stagnation is the death of the soul and the spirit. I continuously grow, and I will continuously reach for the stars, because moving forward is my warrior’s spirit. Growing is my way of life. I am what I will myself to be, and the strength of my heart comes from all the people who love me. With gratitude, I am powerful—and I am grateful.

 

With respect and honor -- Mandirigma