Four-division and current WBO super bantamweight world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” (36-3, 23 KOs) returns to the ring this Saturday. It will be Donaire’s 2016 debut and first defense of his world title he won last December. That match turned out to be an unexpected thriller that took place in Puerto Rico. Donaire took on Cesar Juarez of Mexico who he was heavily favored to defeat. Juarez did not get this memo as he gave Donaire all he could handle. In the end Donaire’s overall better skill and experience were enough for him to win his 7th world title.
Donaire will fight in his native Philippines for the first time as a world champion in 7 years. The fight will take place at the Cebu City Sports Complex, in Cebu City, Cebu. Philippines. His opponent will be former world title challenger Zsolt Bedak of Hungary. Bedak unsuccessfully challenged Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in 2010. He has reeled of 10 straight non descript victories but now gets his second crack at a world title.
Donaire is heavily favored to defeat Bedak which has some thinking about bigger fights in the division for him. His name was in the mix last year for a possible fight with Carl Frampton or Scott Quigg. Those two ended up fighting each other in a unification fight won by Frampton. The WBA has since stripped Frampton who was mandated to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux. Frampton appears headed to featherweight and a possible showdown with world champion Leo Santa Cruz. This would actually leave Rigondeaux. along with Donaire the top guys in the division. We will have to wait and see if Donaire would want to fight Rigondeaux again and try and avenge that 2013 loss to him.
