Nonito Donaire to return March 28 in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Five-division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is booked to compete on March 28 at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Donaire’s in-ring comeback bout will be part of a card that also features World Boxing Organization junior flyweight champion Donnie Nietes, who will defend his belt in the main event against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

According to a report by veteran reporter Ronnie Nathanielsz, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldegeur is currently in talks with Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions to pair Donaire with a Mexican boxer for his first bout on Philippine soil after six years.

The last time Donaire (33-3, 21 knockouts) fought in the Philippines was in April 2009 when he thwarted Raul Martinez via fourth-round technical knockout at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

At what weight class Donaire will compete in remains to be seen as the 32-year-old switch-hitter is willing to simultaneously fight as a junior featherweight and featherweight despite an earlier report that he decided to jump back to 122 pounds on a permanent basis

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His manager Cameron Dunkin reportedly stated that Donaire (33-3, 21 knockouts) had considered making his return to the 122 pound division, where he unified three title belts in 2012 by defeating the likes of Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula and Toshiaki Nishioka.

Donaire concluded his impressive 2012 campaign on a high note by stopping Jorge Arce in the third round, earning him the “Fighter of the Year” award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

However, he tasted a disappointing defeat the following year as he yielded to Cuban boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux via unanimous decision.

After his lackluster performance against Rigondeaux, Donaire climbed up to featherweight and had a triumphant run in his first two outings, pulling off a come-from-behind victory over Vic Darchinyan in a November 2013 rematch before beating Simpiwe Vetyeka by technical decision to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight strap in May 2014.

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Donaire unfortunately failed to make it three in a row as a 126-pound competitor when he dropped the WBA world title to Nicholas Walters this past October.

Walters turned the lights off on Donaire with a powerful overhand right to the left temple that sent “The Filipino Flash” crashing down to the canvas in the sixth round. – Rappler.com