Donaire could defend WBO bantamweight title in Manila

FILE — Nonito Donaire (L) of the Philippines looks at Mexico’s Raul Martinez (R) after knocking him down at the Araneta Coliseum. AFP PHOTO / JAY DIRECTO / AFP / JAY DIRECTO

Nonito Donaire could be defending his WBO super bantamweight championship in front of his home town fans next year.

In a report on BoxingScene.com, Top Rank boss Bob Arum said Donaire’s title defense against former featherweight titlist and one-time training stablemate Evgeny Gradovich is scheduled on April 23 at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Our plans for him are to have him next fight at the world famous Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines, which 40 years ago of course hosted the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ (the third fight) between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier,” said the boxing kingmaker. “It has undergone major renovation since then, and Nonito will return there to defend his championship.”

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Arum expressed his delight over Donaire’s hardfought unanimous victory over Mexican Cesar Juarez in December which turned out to be one of the more action packed fights in 2015.

“We were very, very proud of the way Nonito won the world title in his last fight. Everyone thought he was going to knock the kid out when he dropped him early, but it turned out to be a hell of a fight, a fight that Nonito survived, won and can now look to the future.”

That victory was for vacant title, Donaire’s last of his three-fight win streak.

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Donaire is 4-0 in fights in the Philippines, and the duel against Gradovich (20-1-1, 9 KOs) will be his third at The Big Dome.

Arum, who will be celebrating his 50th year as a promoter, is pumped up for the 33-year-old’s future in the weight class.

“Nonito Donaire is a major part of those plans, beginning with the big show in the Philippines,” he said.