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Interim champ Nonito Donaire faces Seiya Tsutsumi for WBA bantamweight crown

Sports | Boxing

Interim champ Nonito Donaire faces Seiya Tsutsumi for WBA bantamweight crown

By Reynald I. Magallon

At A Glance

Interim titleholder Nonito Donaire finally gets his much-awaited shot at history as he takes on "champion in recess" Seiya Tsutsumi to become the full-fledged World Boxing Association bantamweight champion – and the oldest ever in the division at 42 years old.

Interim titleholder Nonito Donaire finally gets his much-awaited shot at history as he takes on "champion in recess" Seiya Tsutsumi to become the full-fledged World Boxing Association bantamweight champion – and the oldest ever in the division.

The Donaire-Tsutsumi bout will headline the expected tripleheader in Tokyo on Dec. 17 – an event that is promoted by Teiken Promotion, according to multiple reports.

Tsutsumi, who sports a perfect 12-0-3 record with 8 knockouts, actually won the belt last year after defeating Takuma Inoue but was declared as a champion in recess after sustaining an injury following a draw with Daigo Higa.

Antonio Vargas, who was then elevated as the full champion, was supposed to face Tsutsumi in a title consolidation but had to withdraw after his mother passed away, paving the way to Donaire earning the title shot instead.

The Filipino Flash, for his part, won the interim status after a ninth-round technical decision victory despite coming off a two-year hiatus.

Donaire, who turns 43 on Nov. 16, could be the oldest bantamweight champion if he wins.

He boasts a 43-8 record with 28 knockouts which included victories over the likes of Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel.

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