Donaire to fight Brazilian boxer in Manila in March

MANILA, Philippines-After his brutal knockout loss to Nicholas Walters on October 18, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will return home to the Philippines to get back on the track of winners.

In a report by Dan Rafael of ESPN, Donaire will fight a 10-rounder against little-known Brazillian boxer William Prado on March 28 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The fight will be an undercard to the main event that will feature WBO and Ring Magazine Light Flyweight champion Donnie Nietes versus Luis Ceja.

This will be Donaire’s fourth match in the Philippines and his first since 2009.

His sixth round knockout defeat against Walters cost him his featherweight title belt.

This fight, however, is set at the junior featherweight division where he rose to the ranks and became one of the elite boxers of his generation.

“I’m excited to be back at 122 pounds,” said Donaire, who is training with his father, Nonito Donaire Sr., in Oakland, California. “I’m hoping the training to be at 122 will bring me more speed and power.”

Donaire (33-3, 21 KOs) was the consensus Fighter of the Year in 2012 when he won world titles in 112, 118, 122 and 126.

He, however, had his problems fighting in the 126-pound featherweight division.

In November 2013, Donaire struggled to finish off Vic Darchinyan, the same man he floored in 2007 which started his meteoric rise, where he rallied to a ninth round knockout.

Donaire looked flat in his fight against Simpiwr Vetyaka even though he won via technical knockout in the fifth round.

Then came the knockout loss to Walters.

“Nonito is very determined to re-establish his career and he believes 122 pounds is the perfect weight for him,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said.

Prado (22-4-1, 15 KOs) has a thin resume compared to Donaire but has won three of his last four fights.

RELATED STORY

Donaire returns to fighting form with dad as trainer