In the latest rankings announced by the WBA on April 30 (May 1 Japan time), former five-division world champion (including interim titles) Nonito Donaire (Philippines), with a record of 42 wins (28 KOs) and 8 losses, has been ranked No. 5 in the bantamweight division—despite being inactive.
The 42-year-old Donaire last fought on July 29, 2023 (July 30 Japan time), at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he lost a 12-round decision to Alejandro Santiago (Mexico, 28 wins, 14 KOs, 5 losses, 5 draws) in a bout for the vacant WBC bantamweight title. Since then, he has not returned to the ring, but he had lobbied for inclusion in the rankings by attending the WBA convention.
In the WBA bantamweight division, reigning champion Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi Jewel Boxing Gym, 12 wins, 8 KOs, 3 draws, undefeated) is scheduled to face interim champion Antonio Vargas (USA, 19 wins, 11 KOs, 1 loss, 1 no contest) in a unification bout on June 8 (Sunday) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
With the No. 1 spot currently vacant, No. 2 is held by Tenshin Nasukawa (Teiken), who is undefeated in 6 fights (2 KOs), followed by No. 3 Daigo Higa (Shisei), with a record of 21 wins (19 KOs), 3 losses, and 2 draws, and No. 4 Takuma Inoue (Ohashi), with 20 wins (5 KOs) and 2 losses. Donaire’s entry into these high rankings, dominated by Japanese fighters, strongly suggests a potential title-related clash with one of them.
At the 2024 Annual Japanese Professional Boxing Awards held on March 31, Naoya Inoue (Ohashi), the undisputed world super bantamweight champion, was named Fighter of the Year for the eighth time in seven consecutive years. While on stage, he suddenly issued a smiling challenge to WBC world bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (M.T), saying, “Nakatani, let’s fire up Japanese boxing one year from now at the Tokyo Dome.”
When Nakatani immediately replied, “Let’s do it,” news of this potential all-Japanese superfight quickly spread around the world. Meanwhile, Donaire expressed a strong desire to face Nakatani first, declaring, “Fight me before you face Inoue!” The 42-year-old legend has openly stated his ambition: “I want to beat Nakatani and fight Inoue again.”
It’s great news for boxing fans to see Donaire return to the bantamweight division, which has become a battlefield in the current era!
This article has been translated and published with permission from BOXING MASTER.
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