Former world champion Nonito Donaire Jr., just might stage his comeback fight in Macau.
The 32-year-old Donaire, who absorbed a huge sixth-round knockout loss to Nicholas Walters in Carson, California, last October, will reportedly appear in a big boxing card that will feature Chinese sensation Zou Shiming in March.
Shiming, the two-time Olympic champion, will fight for a world title according to boxingscene.com. Donaire’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, told the website they have been in talks to fight in the undercard.
Dunkin also confirmed that Donaire (33-2-0 with 21 knockouts) is moving down to the super bantamweight class after that loss to Walters. He briefly held the 126-lb crown after beating South African Simpiwe Vetyeka via a fifth round technical decision early this year, also in Macau.
However, Dunkin didn’t name any possible opponent for his ward but was quoted as saying “we don’t want to fight any killer,” in reference to the Jamaican Walters, dubbed as the Axe-Man, who dealt Donaire his first KO loss in his career.
The Shiming card will also reportedly include other Filipino fighters, notably Donnie Nietes in another world title fight.
Donaire held several belts in the 122-lb class and was even anointed as Fighter of the Year for 2012. But two days after receiving the accolade, he lost the crown by unanimous decision to Cuban stylist Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York City. He bounced back by beating Vic Darchinyan for a second time by KO, and Vetyeka before losing to Walters.