Filipino boxers

Donaire negative in confirmatory test, pursues title collision with Rodriguez

Roy Luarca

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Donaire negative in confirmatory test, pursues title collision with Rodriguez

BLOCKBUSTER. Filipino boxing star Nonito Donaire (right) and Japan's Naoya Inoue clash in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight final last year.

Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI/AFP

Nonito Donaire still hopes to fight Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez and use it as a stepping stone toward a rematch with Naoya Inoue

Was it a case of false positive for Nonito Donaire?

The four-division world champion got a negative result in a confirmatory test and believes he should be put back as the opponent of Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez for the World Boxing Council interim bantamweight crown on Saturday, December 19 (Sunday, December 20, Philippine time) at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Donaire, who was forced to withdraw and got replaced by Reymart Gaballo in the headliner of the Showtime card after testing positive for COVID 19, tweeted on Saturday he underwent a second test upon the instigation of his wife and manager, Rachel.

To avoid any arguments, the Donaires made sure the same type of test as the first one was used.

The unbeaten Gaballo was supposed to battle Chilean Jose Velasquez in the chief support of Donaire-Rodriguez but agreed to fill in for the “Filipino Flash” with the concurrence of Cuban coach Moro Fernandez and Sanman Promotions head JC Manangquil.

The Donaire camp hopes to fight Rodriguez and use it as a stepping stone toward a rematch with Naoya Inoue.

With still one week to go, there’s enough time for organizers to revert to the original schedule of Donaire-Rodriguez and Gaballo-Velasquez.

A third and final test needs to be done to resolve the issue.

– Rappler.com

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