Long delayed Donaire-Oubaali bout set for May 29

FILE – Nonito Donaire (bottom) and Jessie Magdaleno both celebrate at the end of their WBO junior featherweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Nonito Donaire will finally take his chance at the WBC bantamweight title against champion Nordine Oubaali on May 29.

As per Boxing Scene’s Dan Rafael, the bout could take place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut—Showtime’s go-to venue for boxing events during the COVID-19 pandemic—or in California as the promotion has yet to finalize the card proper.

Donaire and Oubaali’s fight was a long time coming with various factors interfering in the bout.

Oubaali (17-0, 12 knockouts) was supposed to defend his strap against Donaire in the main event of a Showtime card on December 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena but the champion had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19.

The WBC then classified Oubaali as “champion in recess” in mid-November for his eventual absence and approved Donaire to take on former IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez for the vacant green-and-gold title.

Donaire’s replacement bout against Rodriguez was also cancelled after the Filipino-American pugilist got infected with COVID-19.

That positive test of Donaire’s paved the way for Filipino Reymart Gaballo’s interim WBC bantamweight title win over Rodriguez on Dec. 19.

Since Oubaali and Donaire both fell out of their initial fight due to the virus, the WBC eventually reinstated full championship status to the Frenchman and he will have one interim bout before fighting Donaire for the mandatory defense.