FILIPINO world champ Nonito Donaire Jr. and Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux will subject themselves to two drug-testing bodies, a compromise that cleared any further hurdle to their super bantamweight showdown on April 13 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The official testing agency became a contentious issue between the camps of both boxers. The 30-year-old Donaire (31-1-0 with 20 knockouts) demanded that Rigondeaux sign up with the Voluntary Anti Drug Association (Vada) testing program if he wanted the fight to push through.
On the other hand, Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde said his ward would sign the Vada clause if both fighters subject themselves to the Unites States Anti Doping Agency (Usada) testing also.
Reports all over the Internet said that Top Rank chief Bob Arum and Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin agreed to the compromise.
It was only after the compromise was agreed upon that the press conference for the fight finally pushed through, and Donaire, who looked irked during the event, apologized to fans who watched the event over live stream.
The fight will be aired by HBO on its World Championship Boxing feature. Donaire is the WBO champion, while Rigondeaux (11-0-0 with eight KOs) is the WBA titlist. Both fighters will put their belts at stake.
Rigondeaux’s preference for Usada comes as no surprise since the body is responsible for tests on American Olympic athletes and the Cuban has a decorated Olympic career.
Vada, on the other hand, conducts 24/7 tests on Donaire.