MANILA, Philippines – Sa ikaapat na pagkakataon ay muling mapapanood ng kanyang mga kababayan si world super bantamweight champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr.
Sinabi ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions na gagawin ni Donaire ang pagdedepensa sa kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization crown sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Abril 23.
Makakatapat ni Donaire (36-3-0, 23 KOs) si dating featherweight titlist at one-time training stablemate Evgeny Gradovich (20-1-1, 9 KOs).
“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,” wika ni Arum.
Muling napasakamay ng tubong Talibon, Bohol si Donaire ang naturang korona matapos niyang talunin si Mexican fighter Cesar Juarez (17-4-0, 13 KOs) via unanimous decision noong Disyembre 12 sa San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Ang WBO belt ay dating isinuot ni Donaire noong 2013 bago ito inagaw sa kanya ni dating WBO titlist at Cuban two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0-0, 10 KOs).
“We were very, very proud of the way Nonito won the world title in his last fight,” sabi ni Arum. “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.”
Hindi pa natatalo si Donaire sa Pilipinas sa kanyang apat na laban kung saan ang dalawa rito ay idinaos sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Umiskor ang 33-anyos na si Donaire ng knockout win laban kay Raul Martinez bilang super flyweight noong 2009 at ang kanyang second round stoppage kay William Prado noong Marso ng 2015.
Nauna nang nagkampeon si Donaire sa flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight at featherweight divisions.
Kamakailan ay sinabi ni Gradovich na bago niya labanan si Donaire ay gusto muna niyang sumabak sa isang tune-up fight.
Naisuko ng Russian ang kanyang dating hawak na International Boxing Federation featherweight title nang matalo kay Lee Selby noong Mayo.
Matapos ito ay umiskor siya ng split decision win laban kay Aldimar Silva noong Oktubre sa Omaha, Nebraska.
Ito ang pinakahuling laban ni Gradovich sa featherweight class at nagdesisyon siyang bumaba sa super bantamweight category.
“2016 is a big year for our company,” sabi ni Arum, magdiriwang sa Marso ng kanyang ika-50 taon bilang promoter. “Nonito Donaire is a major part of those plans, beginning with the big show in the Philippines.”