Donaire squares off with French boxer in Macau

Nonito Donaire Jr. File Photo

Former Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire Jr. will be pitted against another obscure opponent in Frenchman Anthony Settoul on July 18 at The Venetian Macao.

Donaire is looking to prove he’s ready for another world title shot after losing his WBA super featherweight belt to Jamaican Nicholas Walters in a sixth-round stoppage last year.

READ: Arum: No title fight yet for Donaire

But facing someone like the 28-year-old Settoul (20-3, 8 KOs), who has fought outside France only once, won’t serve as the kind of test Donaire needs to make a statement.

Six of Settoul’s last eight wins had come by knockout but he asn’t fought anyone in the same level as Donaire, who is a five-division world champion.

If anything, this fight could be one of those confidence-building bouts Donaire took instead of getting into another risky fight at this stage of his career where another loss could very well send him out of contention.

The 32-year-old Donaire (34-3, 22 KOs), is coming off a second-round TKO win over little-known Brazilian William Prado in his return to the super bantamweight division at Smart Araneta Coliseum last March.

READ: Nonito Donaire scores TKO win over William Prado, ready for title shot

After dominating an overmatch Prado, the former IBF and WBO super bantamweight champion said he wants a rematch with unbeaten Cuban champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, who outboxed Donaire two years ago.

Donaire feels he’s still at an elite level and stepping back into the right against the best of his class is far from being too ambitious despite falling off the grid after his stunning setback to Walters.

READ: Donaire eyes rematch with Rigondeaux

In his return to 122 pounds where his size, length and punching power could pose problems for most of his opponents, a crack at the world title won’t be that far ahead for Donaire. CFC