‘All roads still lead to me,’ Rigondeaux tells Donaire

Guillermo Rigondeaux punches Nonito Donaire during their WBO/WBA junior featherweight title unification bout at Radio City Music Hall on April 13, 2013 in New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—It seems Guillermo Rigondeaux still wants another scrap with Nonito Donaire.

Donaire is scheduled to face Nordine Oubaali for the WBC world bantamweight title in December but the Filipino ring legend is eyeing bigger things apart from the sanctioning body’s 118-pound title.

But Rigondeaux, however, said that if Donaire wants to move on, he will have to go through him.

“Don’t forget, all roads from 115-122 still lead to Rigondeaux!” the Jackal posted on Twitter as a response to an Inquirer post. “Current champion at 118 lbs, lineal champion at 122 lbs. I’ll take the belts at 115 lbs and meet you there.”

Don’t forget. All roads from 115-122 still lead to Rigondeaux! 😈 Current champion at 118 lbs, Lineal Champion at 122 lbs. I’ll take the belts at 115 lbs & meet you there too https://t.co/RLxlM45imq

— Guillermo Rigondeaux (@RigoElChacal305) October 21, 2020

Rigondeaux and Donaire fought in 2013 for the WBA and WBO world super bantamweight belts with the Cuban southpaw winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Donaire has since been on a sort of a rebirth the past two years going 2-1 in his previous three bouts with his lone loss against Naoya Inoue, Ring Magazine’s no.2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Despite the loss, Donaire’s performance against Inoue was one of the most praised fights in the latter part of his storied career considering Inoue’s previous eight fights were all stoppages.

Donaire, who has won titles in the flyweight, bantamweight, junior featherweight, and featherweight divisions, plans to move down to 115 lbs from 118 lbs in the future and become a five-division World champion.