SPORTSCLOPEDIA 40: NONITO DONAIRE ATTEMPTS TO DEFY FATHER TIME AGAIN VERSUS ALEJANDRO SANTIAGO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 21 Feb 2023
On May 29, 2021, Nonito Donaire became the oldest boxer to win a bantamweight world championship at age 38 and Donaire made history when he defeated French-Moroccan Nordine Oubaali via fourth-round knockout to capture the WBC bantamweight title and become a three-time bantamweight world champion. Now he is out the defy Father Time again and break his own record at age 40.
* * *
The amazing four-division world champion has been knocking out opponents much younger than him in the past years, and only recently lost his title in a rematch to Naoya Inoue, who is considered by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today.
* * *
After he became an undisputed world bantamweight champion last year, the legendary undefeated Japanese decided to relinquish all his title belts and move up to the higher super bantamweight division.
* * *
The four sanctioning boxing bodies negotiated qualifiers and vacant title fights at the bantamweight division, and Donaire will be given another chance at winning a world title once again.
* * *
Donaire is the WBC number one ranked bantamweight contender and Mauricio Sulaiman announced that they have given approval to have the veteran Filipino fighter get a crack at the WBC vacant title.
* * *
Donaire will battle Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago for the vacant belt as he seeks to give himself a chance to reset his own record as the oldest boxer to win a bantamweight title. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed this proposal to ESPN Knockout.
* * *
Fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo will face Thailand’s Nawaphon Kaikanha in a fight that will most probably determine the next challenger for the WBC belt.
* * *
Donaire is 42-7 and his next opponent, Santiago, is only 27-years-old and is fresh from a stoppage win over American Antonio Nieves, improving his professional record to 27-3-5 with 15 KOs.
* * *
Santiago lost to American Gary Antonio Russell by majority decision on November 27, 2021 at Park Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.
* * *
Santiago was also defeated by fellow Mexican Johnny Michel Garcia by split decision on November 15, 2014. He also lost to another countryman Hector Flores Calixto on December 21, 2013.
* * *
Santiago of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico had won 11 of his last 12 bouts to become the No. 4 WBC bantamweight contender. Before that streak, Santiago settled for a split draw with former Filipino world champion Jerwin Ancajas in their September 28, 2018 match for the IBF super flyweight title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE 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 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
Tue, 23 Dec 2025