Nonito Donaire Jr. (43-10, 28 KOs) suffered his second straight loss on Sunday, this time losing to Japanese fighter Riku Masuda (10-1, 9 KOs) via eighth-round TKO.
The 10-round bantamweight clash, an eliminator for the WBA bantamweight world title, was stopped at 1:12 of Round 8 after Donaire’s corner rightfully threw in the towel to stop what was turning out to be a one-sided beating.
Riku Masuda Dominates Nonito Donaire
In fairness to the 43-year-old Donaire, he did keep things competitive early, peppering Masuda with stiff jabs and hitting crisp one-twos. But the tide turned in the fifth after the two fighters clashed heads, with the Filipino Flash getting the worst of it as he suffered a gash near his right eye. With Donaire bleeding, Masuda began turning up the heat, repeatedly getting inside and throwing punches in bunches at close range.
Donaire, known for his undeniable fighting heart, showed resilience in the face of adversity, rocking Masuda near the end of Round 6 with a left and right hook. The Japanese fighter, however, was able to recover and was back to beating up the Filipino in the seventh round, which proved equally pivotal.
With 20 seconds left in Round 7, a hard one-two by Masuda sent Donaire to the canvas for the fight’s first and only knockdown. The onslaught continued in the eighth, culminating in Masuda landing multiple straights to Donaire’s head, ultimately prompting the Filipino’s corner to finally throw in the towel.
Time to Throw in the Towel for Good
Sunday’s result in Yokohama is further proof that Donaire should seriously consider hanging up his gloves—for good. It is his second straight loss, his fifth in his last ten fights, and his sixth in thirteen contests dating back to 2018 when he was just 35. Now, the Filipino Flash is already 43 and is undoubtedly a shell of his former self.
Sure, Donaire showed flashes of the Filipino Flash here and there against an opponent with just 11 professional fights under his belt, but he was dominated nonetheless in the later rounds. This loss, along with his decision defeat to WBA bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi back in December, seems to suggest a fighter better off retiring rather than taking any more beatings—to the detriment of his long-term health.
And, indeed, retirement is something Donaire should consider very seriously. There’s absolutely nothing left for him to prove inside the squared circle, and as a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and a four-division champion, his legacy is already etched in stone alongside Manny Pacquiao and Luisito Espinosa. From that vantage point, hanging up the gloves now wouldn’t be a concession of defeat, but rather a final act of ring generalship—knowing exactly when to exit before the sport takes more than it has already given.
So, rather than continuing to fight as a high-level gatekeeper for rising prospects like the 28-year-old Masuda, Donaire should pivot to his roles as a mentor and ambassador. He has earned the right to walk away with his faculties intact, leaving fans with the memory of his clinical counterpunching and devastating left hook, rather than the sight of a legend staying a few fights too long.
Of course, Donaire has also earned the right to walk away on his terms, in the way he wants it to happen. But a generation that grew up watching him at his absolute spectacular best would surely welcome it if Nonito Donaire Jr., champion extraordinaire in his prime, decides to throw in the towel for good.
