Nonito Donaire returns, wins WBA interim title

FILE–Nonito Donaire reacts after a third round knockout win over Reymart Gaballo for the WBC World Bantamweight Championship at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 11, 2021 in Carson, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

MANILA, Philippines–Nonito Donaire is a boxing champion once again–albeit an interim one.

Donaire claimed the vacant WBA interim bantamweight title after a technical decision win over Chile’s Andres Campos on Sunday (Manila time) at Casino Buenos Aires in Argentina.

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The 42-year-old Donaire, a four-division champion, showed flashes of his old self in his ring return after a two-year hiatus.

His victory–the 43rd of his glittering pro career–however, ended in anticlimactic fashion after the bout was stopped a minute into the ninth round when “The Filipino Flash” suffered a cut just outside his right eye and had difficulty seeing due to an accidental clash of heads.

“Sorry that this happened,” Donaire said on the bout’s abrupt end. “I wanted to show my fighting heart and warrior spirit to the people of Argentina.

“Next time, I will give it all and do my best. Today, this is my victory and also Argentina’s victory for this opportunity.”

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Scorecards were all in favor of Donaire, 87-84, 87-84 and 88-83, at the time of the stoppage.

Donaire, who holds the distinction as the oldest boxer to win a world title at 118 pounds when he knocked out Nordine Oubaali for the WBC crown in May 2021 at 38 years old, chalked up his first victory since stopping compatriot Reymart Gaballo in December 2021.

Campos, 28, who once fought for the IBF flyweight strap, lost for the third time in his last six fight and dropped to 17-3-1, 6KOs.