Donaire to invade heavier divisions?

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. is not getting any younger – and lighter.

Now 31 and perhaps with a number more years left to fight, the “Filipino Flash” said he’s not going to force the issue when it comes the weight division he’s competing at.

On May 31, Donaire will seek the WBA featherweight title against current king Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa.

It’s not the first time Donaire will fight at 126 lb because last November he knocked out old foe Vic Darchinyan in a non-title featherweight match.

But on May 31, at the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Hotel in Macau, Donaire will have his first crack at a featherweight title.

If successful against the South African champion, Donaire will win a world title in a fourth weight class. He has held world titles in the flyweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight divisions.

However, Donaire said he’s not putting any timeline on his stature as a featherweight.

“It’s getting harder and harder for me to go down in weight,” said Donaire, now in the thick of training under his father and namesake Nonito Sr.

During last week’s press launch for his coming fight, Donaire said he’s been walking around at 140 pounds or even heavier than that.

Does that mean he intends to move up in weight sooner than expected?

“I’ll see what happens first,” he said.

“I’d like to fight for the titles and fight the guys (at featherweight) and go from there. Tataas pa ako (I’ll move up),” added Donaire, once an interim champion in the light-flyweight class.

With his body structure, Donaire can move up a couple more steps, and follow the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao who first fought at 106 lb.

Pacquiao is the only boxer to win world titles in eight weight divisions and is currently the WBO champion at 147 lb.

”From here I will go up. It really depends,” he added.