In the main event of “U-NEXT BOXING 5” held at the Yokohama BUNTAI on the 15th, 4th-ranked Riku Masuda (Teiken) defeated 1st-ranked former five-division world champion Nonito Donaire (Philippines) by an eighth-round TKO at 1:12. With this victory in the WBA bantamweight title eliminator, Masuda secured the mandatory challenger position for champion Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi-Hoseki).
ドネアに左ストレートで攻める増田㊧
The bout commenced with both fighters circling to the right, engaged in a tactical battle of the lead hands. Donaire utilized his right to probe and set up his signature left hook, but Masuda consistently made him miss, gradually finding the mark with his own straight lefts.
While Masuda appeared relatively stationary, he utilized his reach to effectively cover up against Donaire’s power shots and employed subtle, precise footwork to keep the Filipino legend out of his optimal range.
Sensing the fight was slipping away, Donaire increased his forward pressure, but Masuda remained composed. When Donaire leaned against the ropes with his guard down to bait the challenger, Masuda refused to engage, maintaining an ideal distance to repeatedly land sharp left hands. His precision eventually opened a cut above Donaire’s right eye.
Following a ringside medical check of the cut in the sixth round, Masuda moved to finish the contest. Donaire responded by landing a flush right hand—potentially his most significant punch of the night—but Masuda successfully stepped back to regain his composure. In the closing moments of the seventh round, Masuda landed a clean one-two combination to score a knockdown. He continued his assault in the eighth, pinning Donaire with a series of straight lefts until the corner signaled the end of the bout by throwing in the towel at 1:12.
With this victory, Masuda (28) secures not only a mandatory challenge against WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi but also an opportunity to avenge the only loss of his career. Masuda’s record moves to 10-1 (9 KOs). Donaire (43), who suffered a more decisive defeat than his previous outing against Tsutsumi last December, falls to 43-10 (28 KOs).
