Photos By Naoki Fukuda
By Joe Koizumi
WBA bantamweight champ Seiya Tsusumi (12-0-3, 8 KOs) will try to unify the WBA belts with interim ruler “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire (43-8, 28 KOs) at Ryogoku Sumo Arena, Tokyo, on December 17. It was announced by Teiken Promotions yesterday. Also, WBA light flyweight titlist Kyosuke Takami (10-0, 8 KOs) will square off against WBO counterpart Rene Santiago (14-4, 9 KOs), Puerto Rico, for unification of a couple of world 108-pound belts.
After dethroning Takuma Inoue, WBA titlist Tsutsumi barely made a successful initial defense on a unanimous draw (all 114-114) with perennial contender Daigo Higa last February, and then underwent an optical surgery. Then, the WBA lifted Seiya to its champion in recess. Having completely recovered from his eye ailment, Tsutsumi at first was planned to meet WBA regular champ Antonio Vargas for WBA unification, but Vargas couldn’t participate in the WBA unification bout because of his mother’s passing. The WBA then lifted Vargas to champion in recess and made Tsutsumi back to regular titlist. Now Tsutsumi and Donaire will fight for WBA bantam unification.
WBA 108-pound new titleholder Takami, 23, who dethroned Eric Rosa this July, will collide with WBO ruler Santiago (who had wrested the WBO belt from Shokichi Iwata here this March), ten years his senior at 33, for WBA/WBO unification.
Another world title bout on this bill will be announced by impresario Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions soon.
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