DONAIRE RETURNS TO ACTION IN SAN ANTONIO ALAMODOME
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 02 Sep 2017
Former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire returns to Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas to fight in the undercard of Yunier Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs) of Cuba versus Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1, 21 KOs) of Russia. The 12-round main event is part of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament which will be held on September 23.
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Donaire (37-4, 24 KOs) last fought in the Alamodome with a split decision win over former world champion Wilfredo Vasquez if Puerto Rico in 2012. His opponent is yet to be announced and is still under negotiation. He expressed his willingness to fight the likes of WBA featherweight title holder Abner Mares, Leo Santa Cruz, IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby and Carl Frampton.
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Donaire, 34, is now training in Tokyo and he just signed a contract with Richard Schaefer, CEO of Ringstar Sports and was the former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. ?It?s unfortunate for Frampton?s fight to be cancelled,? said Donaire in a text from Tokyo. ?But it makes greater opportunities for better fights. Frampton and I can match up anytime. I wanted to fight (Scott) Quigg before but Frampton stepped in and beat him," Donaire told Quinito Henson.
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On July 7, 2007 (7/7/7) Donaire won the IBF flyweight title with a one-punch, fifth-round knockout of the then undefeated Vic Darchinyan. This magnificent win was awarded Ring Magazine's "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year". Donaire ended a long world-title drought for the country and on the same day, fellow Filipino Florante Condes, scored an upset against Indonesian champion Muhammad Rachman via split decision in his home country in Jakarta to wrest the IBF minimumweight title.
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The win was also a sweet revenge for his older brother Glenn who was previously beaten by Darchinyan. The victory also proved to be a good start for Donaire?s journey to get onto bigger fight promotions. He eventually won titles in four more weight divisions. He then was chosen by Boxing Writers Association of America as Fighter of the Year 2012.
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Donaire lost his WBO superbantamweight title to Jesse Magdaleno in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas WBO welterweight title fight. After almost a year of boxing inactivity, he announced his ring return under a new promoter and he is planning to campaign in the featherweight division where he once ruled as the WBA champion.
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Magadaleno (25-0, 18KOs) will be facing his mandatory challenger Cesar Juarez (20-5, 15 KOs). Magdaleno won his first title defense over Adeilson Dos Santos of Brazil last April by KO in the second round. The two fighters had Donaire as a common opponent. The more aggressive stance of Magdaleno, with his most potent weapon his right hand landing cleanly more often, convinced the judges to give the win and the belt to the Las Vegas fighter.
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Juarez also fought Donaire and who could forget the very close match with the then champion Donaire when Juarez rallied in the second half of the bout and the two knockdowns of the Mexican in the fourth round enabled the Filipino Flash to win by unanimous decision in December 2015. Juarez followed that impressive peformance by knocking out the then undefeated Albert Pagara in their 2016 fight. Since then Juarez had been calling Donaire for a rematch.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland government would still support Jeff Horn's WBO world welterweight title defence but this time with a new challenger to be announced yet. "We have been advised today that Manny Pacquiao ... cannot return to the ring on 12 November as proposed," Palaszczuk was quoted by Australian reports. "I am advised Mr. Pacquiao, who is also a Senator of the Philippines, will have other commitments at that time. Whoever the challenger is, my Government will help arrange the meeting because it will be good news for Queensland."
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Duco Events issued a statement confirming that Pacquiao was definitely out of the fight this year. "Pacquiao is committed to fighting again in 2018 and a rematch with Jeff Horn for the WBO welterweight title. Until then, Top Rank, Duco Promotions, TEQ (Tourism and Events Queensland) and Brisbane Marketing will be exploring options," the Aussie promoter stated.
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Oscar de la Hoya and Dana White became bitter rivals when their PPV events, Mayweather-McGregor on August 25 and Alvarez-Golovkin on September 16 were set just three weeks apart at the same venue at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. On the day of the official weigh-in, De La Hoya messaged in social media with a big "f* you" to the Mayweather-McGregor event and hit both fighters for engaging in what he thinks as a fraud fight. White retaliated harshly, asked De La Hoya if he was "snorting coke and drinking booze again" recalling De La Hoya's past experiences with drug abuse.
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?Just trying to defend my sport,? De La Hoya explained to the MMA Hour. ?My sport gave me everything I have. My sport allowed me to win an Olympic gold medal, to win 10 world titles in six different weight classes. I've been boxing since I was 4 years old. I was a little fed up by what was taking place. Obviously emotions run through my veins and I was just defending the sport that I dearly love.?
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As reported by boxingscene.com, De la Hoya continued: ?I just brush off [what White said to me]. I never attacked him personally, whatsoever. I was obviously very disappointed by his words. But it is what it is. I'm gonna continue defending the sport of boxing, I'm gonna continue respecting the MMA. And move on to September 16.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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