WBC resets deadline to fix Donaire bout
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Jan 2020
The deadline to negotiate WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali’s title defense against mandatory No. 1 challenger Nonito Donaire, Jr. has been reset from Jan. 3 to Jan. 17 and if both parties fail to reach an agreement, a purse bid will be held to settle the issue.
Donaire’s wife Rachel said yesterday the deadline was moved because of the holidays. The WBC earlier announced a 30-day period within which the contending parties could agree in “free negotiations” where and when to stage the fight and how much the protagonists would earn. If the promoters representing the fighters are unable to come to terms by Friday, the WBC will summon both sides to a purse bid hearing at its headquarters in Mexico City.
Oubaali’s promoter is MTK Global while Richard Schaefer’s Ringstar represents Donaire. Mexico’s Luis Nery would’ve been the mandatory challenger but was dislodged from the top spot in the WBC ratings after missing weight for a WBC-sanctioned fight scheduled last Nov. 23. It was Nery’s second infraction at the scales in two years and the Mexican has been advised to move up to the superbantamweight division.
Donaire and Oubaali fought separate opponents on the same card in Saitama, Japan, last November. Donaire battled Naoya Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series final, losing a decision in what was the consensus Fight of the Year and Oubaali defeated Inoue’s younger brother Takuma to retain his WBC crown on points.
Oubaali, 33, fought thrice last year, beating Rau’shee Warren to win the vacant WBC title in Las Vegas in January, retained the crown by retiring Filipino Arthur Villanueva after six rounds in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July and made a second defense against Inoue. He turned pro in 2014 at 27 and has compiled a 17-0 record, with 12 KOs. Oubaali, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent, has stopped two Filipinos, Villanueva and Mark Anthony Geraldo. He’s a two-time Olympian who took the bronze medal as a lightflyweight at the 2007 AIBA World Championships.
Oubaali has fought 13 of his 17 fights in France where his promoter will likely bid to host the defense against Donaire. Two warriors whom Oubaali knocked out were former WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico and Colombian Luis Melendez who was 38 and a veteran of 60 fights when he fought the Frenchman.
Donaire, 37, gets the chance to win another world title despite coming off a loss. Although he was outpointed by Inoue, Donaire gave the unbeaten Japanese his toughest test. Donaire has held the IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, super WBA/WBC/WBO bantamweight, super WBA/IBF/WBO superbantamweight and super WBA featherweight championships. Donaire has also won the WBC silver featherweight crown and been awarded the WBC diamond belt in the bantamweight and superbantamweight divisions. The WBC diamond belt was created in 2009 and given to Manny Pacquiao after he halted Miguel Cotto that year.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman personally awarded the diamond bantamweight belt to Donaire in a turnover ceremony at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles in 2018. If Donaire dethrones Oubaali, it will be his second WBC title after wresting the bantamweight crown from Fernando Montiel in 2011.
Donaire’s experience will be a factor in the fight against Oubaali. His record is 40-6, with 26 KOs. Donaire has logged 29 more fights than Oubaali and also enjoys a 3 1/2 inch height advantage and a 1 1/2 inch edge in reach. It’s unlikely that Oubaali has faced anyone as powerful as Donaire.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
KEYSHAWN DAVIS RETURNS ON THE RING 6 UNDERCARD AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Sun, 28 Dec 2025IM Datu captures 4th IIEE Chess SIKAT, Jeremy Marticio repeat champ for 5th mini-tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 27 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS INOUE AND PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH
Fri, 26 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 26 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH
Thu, 25 Dec 20253-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight
Thu, 25 Dec 2025Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 25 Dec 2025Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico
Wed, 24 Dec 2025The Pryce is right again!
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 24 Dec 2025O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025