Nonito Donaire failed in his bold bid to win a world title at age 43 when he absorbed a 12-round split decision defeat at the hands of defending champion Seiya Tsutsumi of Japan in their World Boxing Association bantamweight title clash on Wednesday in Tokyo.

Donaire, a four-division champion, almost scored a knockdown in the fourth frame after catching his foe with a right.

But Tsutsumi recovered his balance and even went on to step up his attack until the 12th and final round, striking Doniare with rights and lefts and withstanding his fancied foe’s best shots in the process.

The victory raised the 29-year-old Tsutsumi’s unbeaten win-loss-draw to 13-0-3 with eight knockouts while the loss dropped Donaire’s mark to 43-9-0 with 28 knockouts.