ORLANDO, FL (May 18, 2025) – Boxlab Promotions is proud to announce that Antonio Vargas has officially been elevated from WBA interim world bantamweight champion to WBA world champion following the World Boxing Association’s ruling. The move comes after reigning champion Seiya Tsutsumi suffered an injury that will sideline him for several months, forcing the WBA to designate him as “Champion in Recess.”

This historic decision makes Vargas the first world champion to be crowned under the Boxlab Promotions banner, marking a significant milestone for both the fighter and the Florida-based promotional company.

“This is an unbelievable honor and a moment I’ll never forget,” said Vargas, who captured the WBA interim title by defeating previously unbeaten Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-1, 13 KOs) back in December of 2024. “To be named WBA world champion is a dream come true. I’ve worked my whole life for this, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped me reach this point.  “I also want to give all praise and glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ as without him none of this would be possible.”

Vargas, a former U.S. Olympian and standout in the professional ranks, expressed deep gratitude for his team stating… “This isn’t just my title — it belongs to my entire team. My trainers, my strength and conditioning coaches, my manager, and of course, my promoter Amaury Piedra and everyone at Boxlab Promotions. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

With championship gold now officially in his possession, Vargas is eager to keep proving himself among the elite. “The belt is just the beginning. I want to defend it, unify it, and keep challenging myself against the best in the division. I’m ready for what’s next, and I’m just getting started.”

Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, praised Vargas’s achievement and highlighted the significance for the company. “We couldn’t be prouder of Antonio. He’s been a consummate professional since day one and is everything you want in a world champion — disciplined, talented, and humble. This moment is not just a win for Antonio, it’s a landmark for Boxlab Promotions. He’s our first world champion, and we know it’s just the beginning of many more to come. We also want to send our best wishes to Seiya Tsutsumi for a full recovery. He’s a true warrior, and we hope to see him back in the ring soon.”

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has officially ordered a mandatory showdown for the bantamweight title between reigning champion Seiya Tsutsumi and interim titleholder Antonio Vargas, the division’s official challenger.

The WBA issued the formal notice to both camps this Wednesday, granting them a 30-day negotiation window that began on March 25 and will run until April 25.

According to Championship Rule C.10, a reigning champion must defend his title against the next available mandatory challenger within 120 days of winning the belt. Tsutsumi claimed the WBA bantamweight crown on October 12, 2024, meaning his mandatory defense deadline passed on January 11 of this year. As a result, his next bout must be against Vargas.

Both teams must now enter negotiations to finalize the fight. If an agreement isn’t reached within the 30-day timeframe, the WBA Championship Committee reserves the right to send the bout to a purse bid.

TOKYO (Dec. 27, 2024) — Three bantamweight firefights, including a pair of world title showdowns, are set for Monday, Feb. 24, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

In the main event, pound-for-pound star Junto Nakatani will defend his WBC crown against unbeaten Mexican puncher David Cuellar. Newly crowned WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi makes his first defense against former flyweight king Daigo Higa in the all-Japanese co-feature.

And, in a 10-round special feature, kickboxing legend Tenshin Nasukawa continues his burgeoning boxing journey against Australian former world champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney.

Nakatani-Cuellar, Tsutsumi-Higa, and Tenshin-Moloney will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ as part of a special early-morning presentation.

Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs) enters 2025 coming off a prolific year that saw him ascend the bantamweight mountaintop. He dethroned Alexandro Santiago by sixth-round stoppage to win the WBC title in February, made his first defense in July with a first-round stoppage over Vincent Astrolabio, and notched a sixth-round TKO over Thailand’s Tasana Salapat in October. From Querétaro, Mexico, Cuellar (28-0, 18 KOs) turned pro in 2017 and will make his first professional appearance outside his home country. He is 5-0 since moving up to bantamweight in 2023, including a stoppage win over former world champion Luis Concepción.

Tsutsumi (12-0-2, 8 KOs) and Higa fought to a 10-round majority draw in October 2020 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. A longtime Japanese bantamweight champion, Tsutsumi bested Takuma Inoue by unanimous decision in October to capture the WBA title. Higa (21-3-1, 19 KOs) reigned as WBC flyweight world champion from 2017-2018. He is 5-2 since the defeat to Tsutsumi, most recently dropping a competitive decision to WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei in September.

Tenshin (5-0, 2 KOs) turned pro in April 2023 and is ranked in the top 10 by three sanctioning organizations. He went 3-0 in 2024, capping off his campaign with a 10-round decision over Gerwin Asilo for the WBO Asia Pacific belt. Moloney (27-3, 19 KOs) became a crowd favorite in Japan when he fought Takei in May at the Toyko Dome. Despite losing a unanimous decision and his WBO bantamweight title to Takei, he had Takei badly hurt in the final seconds of the 12^th round. He returns against one of Japan’s mainstream sporting heroes in hopes of earning another title opportunity.

ORLANDO, FL (December 23, 2024) – Boxlab Promotions’ rising star Antonio Vargas (19-1, 11 KOs) showcased his grit, determination, and knockout power when he claimed the WBA interim world bantamweight title in dramatic fashion on December 13, 2024, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL. The 27-year-old from Kissimmee, FL, scored a stunning stoppage of previously unbeaten Winston “El Fantasma” Guerrero (22-1, 13 KOs) in the 12-round main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects 10 card televised live on DAZN.

Vargas, who climbed off the canvas early in the fight, delivered a career-defining performance that has solidified his status as one of boxing’s brightest talents. He is now seeking a showdown with WBA bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0, 8 KOs) of Japan. 

“Getting knocked down was a reminder of how tough this sport is, but I showed the heart of a champion,” said Vargas, who is a devout Christian. “Winston Guerrero is a great fighter, but I refused to let this moment slip away. Winning the WBA interim title is the result of all the sacrifices I’ve made, and it’s just the beginning.”

Vargas’s journey to this milestone has been nothing short of inspiring. Since his lone professional defeat in 2019, he has reeled off 10 consecutive wins, seven of which came by knockout. This winning streak shows how hard he’s worked to improve his skills and his willpower to become the best in his weight class.

“The road back hasn’t been easy,” Vargas reflected. “I had to dig deep, fix mistakes, and stay focused. Every fight since 2019 has been a step closer to this title. Those tough moments built the fighter you see today, and I’m ready for anything that comes my way.”

Looking ahead, Vargas has his sights set on the reigning WBA bantamweight world champion, Seiya Tsutsumi of Japan. Undeterred by the challenge of traveling abroad, Vargas expressed confidence in his ability to take on the best. 

“I want to prove I’m the best bantamweight in the world, and that means facing Seiya Tsutsumi,” concluded Vargas. “I’m ready to fight him in Japan or anywhere else. This is what being a champion is all about—facing the toughest challenges head-on and coming out on top.”

With his relentless drive, a world title in his grasp, and a vision for unifying the bantamweight division, Antonio Vargas is poised for a monumental 2025. Boxing fans around the globe can expect more electrifying performances from him in the months and years to come.”

“Antonio Vargas proved he’s an elite fighter with his performance against Guerrero proved he’s ready for the biggest fights,” said Boxlab Promotions President Amaury Piedra. “We are working diligently to finalize a fight in Japan against Seiya Tsutsumi for the WBA title. Antonio’s desire and skills make us confident he can unify the division and cement his place as one of boxing’s top stars.”

Takuma Inoue will face undefeated Seiya Tsutsumi this Sunday at the Ariake Arena in defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight championship. 

The speedy Japanese stylist will put his black and gold crown on the line in the main event at the Ariake Arena in Koto Ku, promoted by the legendary Akihiko Honda. 

Inoue will be in the third defense of his title, he won in April 2023, when he defeated Venezuela’s Liborio Solis in a unanimous decision. He made his first defense against the renowned Jerwin Ancajas in February of this year and managed to retain it for the second time against Sho Ishida in May. 

His challenger for this fight will be Tsutsumi, a 28-year-old Japanese who has a good record and knows he is in the most important fight of his life. The Kumamoto native will try to pull off the upset and has worked hard to do so. 

Inoue has a record of 20 wins, 1 loss and 5 knockouts, while Tsutsumi has 11 wins, no losses, 2 draws and 8 knockouts.