Unfinished Business at the Kokugikan: Masuda-Tsutsumi II Tops a Tokyo Triple Header

Japan doesn't do "maybe." It does press conferences with belts on the table, and Wednesday in Tokyo there were a few of them.

Teiken Promotions and U-NEXT announced U-NEXT BOXING.7 for Sunday, Nov. 29, at Ryogoku Kokugikan. Three world title fights. The headliner is the one Japanese fans have been circling for a while: WBA bantamweight titleholder Riku Masuda against the man who handed him the only loss of his career, Seiya Tsutsumi.

Tsutsumi (13-0-3, 8 KOs) outpointed Masuda over 10 rounds for the Japanese title back in August 2023, when Masuda was barely a year into his pro career. Tsutsumi went on to upset Takuma Inoue for the WBA belt, drew with Daigo Higa, then edged Nonito Donaire on a split decision. Injury kept him out after that, and the WBA moved him to "champion in recess." The Ring says he is now listed as the No. 1 contender.

From boxbid.ioGuess the PurseHow much did they get paid? The closest guess wins free points. Guess

Masuda (11-1, 9 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw with Teiken, didn't wait around. He stopped Donaire in eight in March and beat Higa for the vacant WBA title in July. This is his first defense.

Here's the part I like. According to Japanese press coverage of the presser, Tsutsumi brought a belt with him and said he's treating this as a title defense, not a challenge. Masuda, per Sponichi, needled back that Tsutsumi looks a little worn out and talked about ending it inside three rounds. (Translated from Japanese headlines; no full transcript yet.) That's not a rematch. That's a grudge with a sanctioning letter attached.

The chief support is no throwaway. Kenshiro Teraji (26-2, 16 KOs), who has now won world titles at 108, 112 and 115, makes the first defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title against unbeaten Mexican Jassiel Ramon Amador Gamez (15-0-1, 13 KOs), listed on some schedules, including ESPN's, as Gamez, the WBO's No. 10 contender who has never fought outside Mexico.

And in the third title fight, Costa Rica's David Jimenez (18-1, 12 KOs) makes his first start as full WBA 115-pound champion, elevated after Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez moved up, against former WBA flyweight titlist Seigo Yuri Akui (23-3-1, 13 KOs). Akui lost his 112-pound belt to Teraji. Japanese outlets report Teraji says he has a unification with Akui in mind. Win on Nov. 29, both of them, and that fight writes itself.

Speaking of Bam, the Inoue situation is still a mess. We covered that here: Who's Waiting? Inoue Says He Won't Hang Around for Bam.

Bottom line: Masuda gets a chance to erase his only loss, and Tsutsumi gets to argue in the ring that he never really lost the belt. Three title fights, one building. If you think somebody's not hearing the final bell, go guess the rounds on Boxbid when the card goes up.

Sources

• Teiken Promotions on X
• U-NEXT Fight on X
• The Ring / Anson Wainwright
• Bad Left Hook via Yahoo Sports