Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire (C) celebrates after knocking out French boxer Nordine Oubaali after winning the Bantamweight World Championship boxing match at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 29, 2021 in Carson, California. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Nonito Donaire’s resurgent year got capped off in style after he earned Premier Boxing Champions’ Fighter of the Year for 2021.
The 39-year-old went 2-0 in his two fights in the year knocking out Nordine Oubaali to win the WBC world bantamweight title and then doing the same to fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo in his first defense.
Oubaali and Gaballo not only lost in similar fashion, they were also both knocked out in the fourth round.
With a combined 47.6% of the votes from our Twitter and YouTube polls, YOUR choice for the #BestOfPBC2021 FIGHTER OF THE YEAR is… WBC World Bantamweight Champion @filipinoflash! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/3cdb9ahO1F
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) December 31, 2021
Donaire earned 47.6 percent of the total fan votes in the PBC’s Twitter and YouTube polls beating out Stephen Fulton Jr., Gervonta Davis, and David Benavidez.
“In 2021, 39-year-old Donaire proved age is just a number by once again becoming a world champion with a 4th-round knockout against Nordine Oubaali. Then, earlier this month, he defended that title against unbeaten Reymart Gaballo with yet another 4th-round KO!” Posted the PBC.
Against Oubaali in May Donaire, who was 38 at the time, made history when he became the oldest fighter to win a World title in the 118-pound division.
His first title defense also ended in spectacular fashion when he conquered Gaballo on December 11 at Dignity Health Sports Park—the same venue where he beat Oubaali.
