FILIPINO superstar Nonito Donaire Jr. is stoked to finally be able to fight in the Philippines’ boxing mecca ? Cebu City.
“He is very happy to know that he’ll be fighting in front of the Cebuanos,” Donaire Jr.’s father and trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. told Sun.Star Cebu.
Originally slated in Manila at the historic Araneta Coliseum, Donaire Jr.’s title defense was moved to the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) on April 23.
The 33-year-old Donaire Jr. will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title against former Olympian Zsolt Bedak in the main event of the event co-promoted by ALA Promotions and Top Rank.
Donaire Jr. has fought four times in the Philippines but he has never fought in Cebu City. He, however, has trained in Cebu, at the ALA Gym, numerous times.
Donaire Jr. last fought in the Philippines last year and demolished Brazilian William Prado in two rounds at the Araneta Coliseum.
Donaire Jr. already started training in the US and will be finishing his training camp at the ALA Gym, where he is expected to get a lot of quality sparring partners.
“We are very happy it will be in Cebu. Maybe we will go there on April 10, ” said Donaire Sr.
Unbeaten super bantamweight prospect Jessie Magdaleno is also slated to fight in the undercard and could possibly be a future opponent for Donaire Jr.
The 24-year-old Magdaleno, 23-0 with 17 knockouts, is rated currently as the No. 1 contender of the WBO super bantamweight division.
“Maybe that’s the plan of Bob (Arum). But we still don’t know,” said Donaire Sr.
There are talks that Donaire Jr. may be moving up in weight but Donaire Sr. believes that it won’t be anytime soon.
“No. He’ll stay at 122 pounds,” he said.
Donaire Jr., 36-3 with 23 knockouts, won the vacant WBO super bantamweight strap with an exciting unanimous decision win over Cesar Juarez last December in Puerto Rico.
