Nonito Donaire, who is the oldest fighter to win a world title in the bantamweight division, has dismissed any talk of retiring.
In a press release via Probellum, the much-celebrated Filipino is said to be in talks to drop down to 115lbs to face the likes of fellow legend Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and WBO champion Kazuto Ioka. With his 40th birthday on the horizon, Donaire seems to have held onto all the motivation he needs to chase titles in the sport.
“It’s a really good fight with Chocolatito and people are saying it would be ‘legend versus legend.’ It’s a big fight.”
“But I do like the Ioka fight as well because I want to get that title and become a five-division champion and then move back up to 118 and go for the undisputed crown once everything else is open and I get another opportunity for it.”
The movement in weight class is nothing new for Nonito Donaire. His career has spanned five divisions and he has picked up belts in four of them.
He revealed that, even before his rematch with Naoya Inoue in June, discussions about a return to super flyweight were taking place with Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.
“Before the fight with Inoue, Richard Schaefer and I talked about going down to 115.”
“Making the weight was very simple for me and I made it quickly. I even made 117 before stepping on the scales. Richard and I were talking and saying that regardless of what happens here, maybe I can go down to 115 and fight the guys in that division.”
Following those discussions, Donaire was sensationally knocked out by generational great, Inoue in Saitama. The highlight reel KO, coming in the second round, was the latest addition to the Japanese fighter’s perfect record and reinforced his place at the top of many fans pound-for-pound rankings.
In a newly released video interview discussing the fight, Donaire perhaps sums up perfectly why the fans will be delighted to find out he is carrying on.
“I’ve always been willing to fight anybody.”
“I’m really grateful for the fans and their support, and it motivates me to just keep getting better. No matter how many times you can drop me, I’m always going to get up.”