[ad_1]
Former four-division world champion, Nonito Donaire, returns to the bantamweight division that he has not cashed since 2011.
Donaire joined the squad for the 118-pound Super Boxing Series tournament kicks off this fall »Donaire, who won the world flyweight, bantamweight, junior featherweight and featherweight titles, fought as a bantamweight when he defended his belt by decision laundering against Omar Narvaez in October 2011.
Toward the end of his career and in search of another important occasion, Donaire decided to drop two weight classes for a spot in the knockout tournament of eight men that will feature several of the best fighters in the rooster division.
"I'm really looking forward to the tournament," Donaire said. "Entering the tournament gives me the opportunity to show my abilities against the best of this division, this division is filled with talent and it is really exciting! I believe that my size, my experience and especially my power will give me the advantage over my opponents … "
" The Filipino Flash "Donaire (38-5, 24 KOs), 35, from the Philippines fighting Las Vegas, is losing a unanimous decision to defeat against Carl Frampton, interim defender vacant. title on April 21 in the hometown of Frampton, Belfast, Northern Ireland. After the fight, Donaire said that he would be willing to lose weight for the right opportunity.
"Donaire is a legend in the game and an extraordinary addition to the Muhammad Ali Trophy action," said promoter Kalle Sauerland, head of boxing for the organizer of the Comosa AG tournament. "He fought in various divisions, but his best in the 118-pound category because of exceptionally fast hand speed and tremendous punching power."
Donaire is the fifth fighter to officially join the rooster field. Emmanuel Rodriguez (18-0, 12 KOs), of Puerto Rico, 25, will make his maiden defense against mandatory challenger Jason Moloney (17-0, 14 KOs), 27, of the 29-year-old. Australia, in one of the quarterfinals.
Ryan Burnett (19-0, 9 KOs), 26, Northern Ireland and Zolani Tete (27-3, 21 KOs), a 30-year-old southpaw from South Africa.
Japanese Naoya Inoue (16-0, 14 KOs), 25, was not officially announced as a participant, but he said after his knockout of Jamie McDonnell in the first round to win a secondary belt May 25 in Tokyo that it would be part of the field. Inoue and his team are finalizing his contract to participate in the tournament
Donaire is eager to get his hands on as many belts as he can.
"People always asked me about my goal and I said To be undisputed (world champion), with this tournament, this goal is now achievable," said Donaire.
Donaire will not have the opportunity to become the undisputed champion, as only three of the four major belts will be involved in the tournament – unless the last two places are taken by Nordine Oubaali (14-0 , 11 KOs), 31, two-time French Olympian, and Petch Sor Chipatanna (46-0, 31 KOs), 24, from Thailand, who have to fight for the vacant WBC version of the title.
Source link
