RISING star Hayato Tsutsumi has been given an early boost in the WBA’s 2025 super featherweight rankings following his spiteful performance against Rene Alvarado.
The 25-year-old produced a stunning eight-round display on December 31, halting former world champion Alvarado with a barrage of blistering attacks in Tokyo, Japan.
WBA super flyweight titlist Fernando Martinez was supposed to headline the New Year’s Eve event in a rematch with former 115 lb king Kazuto Ioka.
However, the formidable Argentinian was ultimately forced to withdraw due to illness, setting the stage for Tsutsumi to shine instead.
Sure enough, the unbeaten contender proved that he is not a million miles away from world level, extending his professional record to 6-0 after dispatching one of the most seasoned operators at 130 lbs.
Shortly after his destructive performance, Tsutsumi moved up five places in the WBA rankings, leapfrogging the likes of Mark Magsayo, Raymond Ford and Zelfa Barrett to occupy fourth place.
Meanwhile, the sanctioning body’s champion, Lamont Roach, is of course gearing up for his lightweight showdown with pound-for-pound star Gervonta Davis on March 1.
And so, it is likely that the American will eventually be forced to vacate his belt, potentially giving interim titlist Albert Batyrgaziev the full championship status.
Either way, Tsutsumi could be presented with a career-defining opportunity before long, with just three fighters – Sultan Zaurbek, Elnur Samedov, and Otar Eranosyan – sitting above him in the rankings.
But regardless of his potential title shot, the standout amateur – having established himself as one of Japan’s brightest talents – is set to have a monumental impact on his division in 2025.
