Seiya Tsutsumi wants to make a statement to the rest of the boxing world on Tuesday.
Tsutsumi will face Kazuki Anaguchi at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The 10-round fight will precede the main event fight between Naoya Inoue and Marlon Tapales for Ring Magazine and the undisputed junior featherweight championship.
Both fights will air live on ESPN+, starting at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT.
The 28-year-old Tsutsumi (9-0-2, 7 KOs) may not be known for fighting with fans overseas, but he made a name for himself among boxing fans across Japan in October 2020, fighting for a draw by majority decision against the former. WBC World Flyweight Champion Daigo Haiga, who is currently ranked No. 10 in The Ring at 118 pounds.
Since the fight with Haiga, Tsutsumi has won his last four matches. In his last fight on August 30, which took place at the famed Korakuen Hall in his hometown of Tokyo, Tsutsumi defeated Rika Masuda by unanimous decision in a clash of undefeated bantamweights.
Tsutsumi will face another undefeated fighter in Anaguchi. In addition to maintaining his undefeated status, there is also a lot at stake in his fight against Anaguchi. The fight is the final of the Naoya Inoue Cup Bantamweight Tournament. There is a monetary prize of 10,000,000 yen, which is equivalent to about 70,000 US dollars.
The Japanese bantamweight title, currently held by Tsutsumi, is also up for grabs. Tsutsumi believes Anaguchi will present a strong test in the ring on fight night.
“He’s really a smart boxer with good speed and footwork,” Tsutsumi told The Ring through boxing translator and writer Yuriko Miyata. “He has good vision.”
Naoya Inoue’s fights in Japan have sold out large stadiums and venues. Whether casual or hardcore fans tune in, high ratings on networks and streaming services have also become the norm.
Tsutsumi may be nervous or excited, or both, but he is grateful for the opportunity to fight on a major card and that the fight will be broadcast to the United States and other countries.
“It’s a great honor to fight on that historic card,” said Tsutsumi, who is trained by Yuta Ishihara and managed by Shingo Suzuki. “Of course, it’s quite (a little) pressure, but I feel more excited than nervous. Now I am happy to know that my fight will be broadcast in the US. I will do my best in the ring to please the fans there.”
“I am a boxer-puncher, inside or from afar. I often switch from orthodox to left-handed. “I hope my style appeals to boxing fans.”
Earlier this year, Tsutsumi spent time in the Los Angeles area, sparring at some of the several gyms in the area. Tsutsumi was also able to attend local club shows to assimilate into the fighting scene.
Tsutsumi was able to take on some of the best underweight fighters in boxing, which also allowed him to hone his skills. Spending time in Southern California, considered one of the top boxing hubs on the planet, may pay long-term dividends for Tsutsumi.
“I was training with Manny Robles and the team this (past) summer,” Tsutsumi said. “It reminded me how important the basics and fundamentals are to developing practical skills. As a boxer, I’ve always cared about that part and he made me think he was right.
“I faced (bantamweight contender) Saúl Sánchez, (undefeated featherweight) Omar Trinidad, Rigo Hermosillo, Adrián Alvarado and (once defeated) Anthony Olascuaga.”
Tsutsumi is currently ranked in the top 10 according to three of boxing’s major sanctioning bodies. An impressive win over Anaguchi could put him in position to fight in a world title eliminator or another major card.
Since the fight against Haiga, Tsutsumi has progressed steadily and is on the verge of a world title fight. Tsutsumi understands that dominant victories and knockouts go a long way in the sport, but he is up to the challenge of making a lasting impression on fight fans.
“It is very important for me to make a statement as a world-class boxer. So how I win is important. But the most important thing is that I have to get a victory in this fight.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County, California, Star newspaper. He can be contacted at [email protected]
Follow @FSalazarBoxing
