Donaire: ‘I am snatching that WBC belt’

Given another crack at a world title, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire feels it’s for his taking.

“I am snatching that WBC (World Boxing Council) belt come May 2021,” Donaire tweeted early April, a month before his bantamweight championship bout with Nordine Oubaali of France was officially announced for Saturday, May 29 (Sunday, May 30, Philippine time) in Los Angeles, California.

Donaire fought well but fell short against Naoya Inoue in the WBSS finals on November 9, 2019, in Saitama, Japan. In the undercard, Oubaali bested Inoue’s younger brother, Takuma, by unanimous decision.

Both the 38-year-old Donaire and the 34-year-old Oubaali haven’t fought since then. They were supposed to clash in December 2020 but Oubaali contracted COVID-19.

After separate scratched fights due to the pandemic, Oubaali and Donaire will finally tangle for the 118-pound title probably at Avalon Theater.

Though Oubaali holds a better record, 17-0 with 12 knockouts on his third title defense, many boxing analysts tend to lean on four-division world champion Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs).

Reason: Donaire’s 20-year pro experience and superior opponents.

In addition, the 5-foot-6 Donaire will be 2 1/2 inches taller and 1 1/2 inches longer in reach than Oubaali.

While Oubaali boasts a higher knockout percentage, Donaire is noted for his one-punch annihilation of the then unbeaten Vic Darchinyan in 2007 and his second-round demolition of Fernando Montiel in 2011, both earning Knockout of the Year citations.

Oubaali has stopped Filipino challengers Mark Anthony Geraldo in 2017 and Arthur Villanueva in 2019, but clearly, they aren’t on the level of Donaire, the 2012 Fighter of the Year.

Donaire has been working out since February, even trying cryo training in natural settings in Arizona, and is now immersed at the gym.

He knows Oubaali won’t yield the belt without a fierce struggle. – Rappler.com