By Chris Williams: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is talking about having the recently knocked out Nonito Donaire (33-3, 21 KOs) return to the ring in the next two months to fight in March in Manila. There’s also a possibility that Donaire could fight in May in Macau, China if the Manila fight doesn’t work out.
Donaire, 32, was annihilated in just 6 rounds by WBA World featherweight champion Nicholas Walters last October. That was a fight in which Donaire tasted the canvas in the 6th round and was unable to get up.
There’s a possibility that Donaire’s next fight could take place at super bantamweight if he can melt down to 122 to make the weight. That’s the big question because Donaire has put on weight since his fight against Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013, and the weight that Donaire has put on doesn’t appear to be muscle.
Donaire seems to be slightly flabby around the midsection since moving up to featherweight. That weight can easily be shed through hard work so that Donaire can get back down to super bantamweight, but it’s debatable whether he’ll be able to do the work needed to get the extra pounds off.
”The first possibility, I was contacted by a network in the Philippines, ABS-CBN, was that he would fight in March in Manila. If that’s not going to happen then the backup plan is he could go in Macau in May,” Arum said. “[Donaire will fight] either March in Manila or in May in Macau.”
Donaire is going to have a tough time rebuilding his career at 122 if he decides to try and make a second go of it in that weight class, because all of the current champions are quality fighters. Donaire doesn’t have the benefit now of facing Wilfredo Vazquez Jr to pick up one of the super bantamweight titles like he did in the past in 2012.
The division has gotten a lot better since then, and if Donaire wants to capture the WBO title, he’ll need to face Rigondeaux for that belt. I don’t imagine that Donaire will want to take that fight right about now. Arum makes Donaire’s fights, so he’ll likely play it safe with him for the time being by matching him against a beatable guy at 122 while he looks for a champion that he thinks he can beat.
Donaire looked like he had lead feet against Walters, Rigondeaux and Vic Darchinyan, and it’s possible that Donaire’s mobility has been compromised by age and good living. Without his mobility, Donaire is now forced to take a lot more punishment than he did previously, and we’re finding out that he doesn’t take shots as well as he gives them. Donaire suffered a fracture of his cheekbone against Darchinyan, and of course Walters knocked Donaire out.
Comments are closed.