Donaire in Pacquiao undercard—a plus or a minus?

To test the reliability of Nonito Donaire’s fancy official website (nonitodonaire.com), I sent queries recently via its “contact” section for the boxer or his surrogates to answer.

Up to now I have not gotten a response.

I posed a couple of questions for Donaire—a three-time division world champion and currently WBO super bantamweight titlist: Why is it a positive to fight in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s ring comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on November 5?

On the flipside, why is it a negative?

I wanted to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth because performing in a supporting bout for Pacquiao has been Donaire’s wish for the longest time.

But it gives the impression that promoter Bob Arum continuously does not think the world of the Flash. That a world championship with him as the main man won’t fly profitably in today’s boxing stage crowded with pleasing stars of rising stock and momentum.

Donaire’s career has been up and down since he was chosen consensus Fighter of the Year in 2012.

Once called Pacquiao’s heir apparent, his career suffered a setback when he lost big time to Guillermo Rigondeaux the following year.

After that disaster, Donaire, 33 appears to have lost the swagger as Pacquiao’s worthy successor. Now he is saying all he wants is to be himself.

He has since won four consecutive bouts albeit in unspectacular fashion. He scored three knockdowns on the way to an easy title defense against Szolt Bedak of Hungary in Cebu City last April.

In any case, Donaire (37-3-24 KOs) will count on his checkered ring experience when he stakes his WBO super bantamweight belt against Las Vegas native Jessie Magdaleno (23-0-17 KOs) at the city’s Thomas and Mack Center in one of two curtain raisers for Pacquiao-Vargas.

Magdaleno is unabashedly happy he is boxing with Donaire while his fellow Vegas boy Vargas is meeting Pacquiao on the same night.

“Both Jessies from Las Vegas beating both big fighters from the Philippines… That’d be something,” Magdaleno told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.

Pugmire reports that the-24-year old Magdaleno will have to work hard to make weight for his encounter with Donaire because he has not seen action “under the super bantamweight limit of 122 pounds since January 2015 and he weighed 131½ pounds for his most recent bout in February.”

“That’s everybody’s concern. It’s not my concern. I can make that weight, it’s going to be an easy task,” Magdaleno said when asked by Pugmire about his heft issue. “The time’s here. I’ll take full advantage of it. I believe youth is going to overpower [Donaire].”

On the other hand, Donaire reminded Magdaleno through Pugmire that during their encounter he will employ his experience “of knowing exactly where the kid (Magdaleno) is going to be.”