Philippines, 06 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Donaire?s fight elevated to title status


PhilBoxing.com




What was originally set as a title eliminator has been upgraded to an interim championship fight and Nonito Donaire, Jr. said yesterday it was only fitting that his duel with Northern Ireland?s Frampton will be for the WBO featherweight crown, even on a temporary basis, at the SSE Arena in Belfast on April 21.

WBO titlist Oscar Valdez suffered a cracked jaw and broken teeth during his win on points over Scott Quigg at the StubHub Center in California last March and will take months to recover from a procedure where his mouth was wired to heal the injury. Whoever wins in Belfast will be recognized as the interim champion while Valdez recuperates and mandated to face the Mexican once he is fit to fight again.

?Frampton and I are both champions and our fight deserves to be a 12-round title match,? said Donaire. ?I was told that the fight was upgraded a week or two ago and I think it?s great. It?s a reflection of how big this fight is. I know the fans will go all out to cheer for Frampton in his hometown but that?s not a problem for me. Once the fight starts, my mind will just be focused on winning and I won?t hear the crowd.?

Donaire will leave Las Vegas, where he is based, for Belfast on Friday. ?I?ll do heavy training but no sparring in my first two days in Belfast then I?ll taper off,? he said. ?Weight?s not an issue. I?m comfortable in the featherweight division. Right now, I?m walking around at 130 and it won?t be difficult to trim down to 126 for the weigh-in.?

Donaire said training camp has been smooth. ?I?ve sparred at least 80 rounds with five or six different fighters,? he said. ?I had to cut down sparring long rounds to avoid peaking too soon but now, I?m back to sparring 10 to 12 rounds. I like rotating sparmates with different styles so I can work on my adjustments. Frampton?s not anyone like I?ve fought before. He reminds me a little of Fernando Montiel whom I knocked out with a single left hook in the second round in 2011. Frampton?s more of a straight-up kind of fighter and unlike Montiel, I don?t think he?ll give me a wide opening for my left hook. He?s both a boxer and puncher. Whatever style he?ll use, I?m ready so bring it on.?

Donaire, 35, and Frampton, 31, are both former WBA featherweight champions looking to get back on the throne in the crossroads of their careers. Frampton is also a former IBF superbantamweight titlist. Donaire has been the IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, WBC bantamweight, IBF/WBO superbantamweight and WBA featherweight champion. Donaire?s record is 38-4, with 24 KOs compared to Frampton?s 24-1, with 14 KOs.

Frampton?s only loss was a majority decision to Mexico?s Leo Santa Cruz last July. He?s coming off a win by unanimous decision over Mexico?s Horacio Garcia and survived a knockdown in the seventh round to book the victory last November. Frampton also went down not once but twice in the first round as he stormed back to defeat Mexico?s Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr. via a unanimous 12-round verdict in El Paso, Texas, in 2015.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Boxers swing into action
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
    By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
    , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 05 Sep 2025
  • India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • 150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Miguel Berchelt to Return in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; WBC Praises City’s Commitment
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Spicing up “Thrilla” card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SATURDAY: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina to be Broadcast LIVE on ESPN Deportes in the United States
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SUGAR NUNEZ: I’M JUST GETTING STARTED
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Jennifer Lozano’s Targets Run at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • University of the Philippines is Quezon City chess champ
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Ultimate Arm Wrestling Showdown on Sept. 7 in Digos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Technological evolution or revolution?
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Result or Matias-Smith WBC super lightweight title match purse bid
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Vicelles fights in Japan on Sept. 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.