By Allan Fox: WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) will finally be making a defense of his strap against #1 ranked contender Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) on May 29th in Los Angeles, California. The news is being reported by Julius Julianis.
Oubaali vs. Donaire is a fight that boxing fans have been waiting for since 2020, and now it’s finally set to happen next month. Knock on wood.
The former four-division world champion ‘Filipino’ Donaire hasn’t fought in a year and a half since losing to Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue by a 12 round unanimous decision in November 2019 in the final of the World Boxing Super Series in Saitama, Japan.
That was a grueling fight for both fighters, particularly Inoue. He suffered an eye ridge fracture, a broken nose, and a bad cut.
Inoue avoided most of Donaire’s powerful left hooks, but the ones that did connect did the damage. Donaire wanted a rematch, but not surprisingly, Inoue hasn’t made a move to give him one. What we saw in that fight was Inoue can be hurt.
Although Donaire is getting up there at 38, he’s still incredibly powerful for the bantamweight division. While Nonito isn’t the fighter he was during his best years from 2007 to 2012, he’s still awfully good and dangerous for anyone in the 118-lb division.
If Donaire had stayed at 118 rather than moving up to 122 and 126, he would have enjoyed more success in the last eight years of his career.
The 34-year-old southpaw Oubaali of France hasn’t fought since he beat Naoya’s brother Takuma Inoue by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision in November 2019. Before that, Oubaali defeated Rau’shee Warren by a 12 round unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC title.
Inoue could face the winner of the Oubaali vs. Donaire fight, which would be huge either way. Donaire is eager to fight Inoue again to try and avenge his loss. Oubaali would like to share the ring with Inoue as well.
Of the two, Donaire stands a better shot at beating Inoue because he’s got the power to get him out of there.
With Oubaali, he would be forced to try and win a 12 round decision against Inoue, and that’s not likely to happen; Ouabaali would take too much punishment along the way and get stopped.
Reymart Gaballo vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez rematch
In the Oubaali vs. Donaire fight undercard, interim WBC bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo (24-0, 20 KOs) will be facing Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KO) in a rematch after beating him last December by a 12 round split decision.