Was watching this guy earlier, and don’t know why there isn’t much hype around him. Extremely good precision and punch selection, has power, speed, very good balance, brings his feet with him, closes the distance very fast too (many can only do one, some are well balanced, but don’t have explosive feet, some have explosive and quick feet but not great balance). He can counter, is very well composed, sets attacks up well and doesn’t waste anything, uses that jab well either to box, or to set opponents up and get them into position to unload. Some may point to his lack of head movement, but I just think he hasn’t had to use it, and it’s not like you can just open up on him either because he times that check left hook very well as you open up and is dangerous with it too. Edit: Also, I’ve noticed he has a younger brother on the way up too, but I personally think Hayato Tsutsumi looks more well rounded and more defensively responsible, although his brother also puts his punches together well and certainly has power, I think Hayato looks a bit more co-ordinated with everything, and more well rounded and measured with things in general.
He can be the best boxer in Japan after Inoue without no doubt, but his career is progressing too slowly, which is a shame. Without his injury, he would have beaten James Dickens and would already hold the WBA belt at 130 lbs. I get the impression that his career has stalled, between that and his weight issues at 126 lbs with the JBC suspension... Now his brother Reito Tsutsumi is also becoming a big name and a good prospect in the 130 lbs division.
