Donaire moving up in weight
FED UP with chasing reigning WBC and WBA super flyweight titleholder Vic Darchinyan and struggling to make the division’s limit, Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. said recently he will move up in weight.
“I will no longer wait for Darchinyan to fight me again,” Donaire said. “Instead, I will try and challenge the likes of Fernando Montiel in the bantamweight class or even super bantam titleholder Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.”
Donaire kayoed Mexican Hernan Marquez to keep his WBA interim super flyweight title at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in San Juan, Puerto Rico but admitted that his body can no longer cope with the 115-pound limit in the super flyweight class.
“The Marquez fight is my last fight as a super flyweight. I feel stronger and healthier fighting in the 118-pound division.” Donaire sports a 24-1 card spiked with 16 knockouts.
Born in Talibon, Bohol, Donaire jolted the boxing world when he knocked out the heavily favored Darchinyan in 2007 to crown himself the IBF and IBO flyweight king.
A rematch was set this year but Donaire said that negotiations were not finalized. Instead, he fought and floored Marquez to keep his crown.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he expects Donaire to challenge reigning WBO and WBC titlist Montiel on November.
“I wish that I’ll fight in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao and Antonio
Margarito. This will be a big honor and dream come true for me,” said Donaire.
GMA chief executive officer and chairman Felipe Gozon said the giant network has lined up many projects for Donaire.
