An inability to honor a mandatory title defense in timely fashion will now leave Seiya Tsutsumi belt-less for the time being.
The unbeaten WBA bantamweight titlist was downgraded to champion in recess, the sanctioning body confirmed in a recent ruling. The decision was made after Tsutsumi, 12-0-3 (8 KO) – through Teiken Promotions – notified the WBA that he is not yet able to return to the ring in time to honor the deadline to face Antonio Vargas in a title consolidation bout.
Vargas, 19-1 (11 KOs), is now the recognized full WBA bantamweight titleholder, an upgrade from his prior status as an interim titlist.
“In a recent ruling, the World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has officially designated Japan’s Seiya Tsutsumi as ‘Champion in Recess’ following a thorough review of his documented medical condition,” the WBA stated in a ruling made available to the public. “As a result, interim titleholder Antonio Vargas has been elevated to full WBA world bantamweight champion.
“Tsutsumi has been sidelined and unable to train or compete since early 2025 due to health issues, preventing him from fulfilling his mandatory defense against Vargas. On May 6, 2025, Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions formally notified the WBA that Tsutsumi is medically unfit to proceed with the bout. After careful evaluation … the Committee reached its decision to preserve the integrity of the championship landscape.”
Tsutsumi was previously one of four major belt holders from Japan, which has enjoyed a stranglehold on the division for more than a year.
Junto Nakatani, 30-0 (23 KOs), and Ryosuke Nishida, 10-0 (2 KOs), are due to meet in a WBC/IBF unification bout on June 8 at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo. WBO titlist Yoshiki Takei, 10-0 (8 KOs), is set to next defend against unbeaten Thai challenger Yuttopong Tongdee, 15-0 (9 KOs), on May 28 in his Yokohama, Japan, hometown.
Tsutsumi’s reign began with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Takuma Inoue last October 13 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The same venue housed his lone title defense, a brutal slugfest with countryman Daigo Higa that ended in a 12-round draw in their February 24 rematch in Tokyo.
Their second stalemate in as many fights saw Tsutsumi suffer a cut early in the bout and both fighters hit the deck in the ninth round – a Round of the Year contender.
It is hardly a surprise that Tokyo’s Tsutsumi was not fit to return to the ring, given the brutal nature of the contest. He has yet to return to the gym and likely will be unable to resume his career until later this summer.
Vargas claimed the interim title in a 10th-round stoppage of unbeaten Winston Guerrero last December 13 in Orlando, Florida. The bout took place as an extension of the annual WBA convention at Caribe Royale Resort.
The location has served as the career headquarters for Kissimmee, Florida’s Vargas, a 2016 U.S. Olympian who has appeared there in each of his past eight starts.
A title consolidation bout was ordered by the WBA on March 26. The 30-day deadline came without a deal in place, understandable given the abovementioned update on Tsutsumi.
Next steps for Vargas’ first defense were not revealed by the WBA as this story goes to publication.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on and .