THOUGH there is no official word yet on Nonito Donaire Jr.?s opponent for his first title defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title, his father and trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. believes that it?ll most likely be former Olympian Zsolt Bedak.
?I think Bedak will be his opponent,? Donaire Sr. told Sun.Star Cebu. ?I think he (Evgeny Gradovich) won?t make 122 pounds because he had a hard time making weight in his last fight. He weighed in at 128 pounds even if he was supposed to fight at 122 pounds.?
Gradovich and Bedak are the frontrunners as Donaire Jr.?s next opponent. However, it looks as if Gradovich is out of the picture after having trouble making the super bantamweight limit.
Gradovich, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight champion, tested the super bantamweight division with a tune-up fight against Jesus Galicia last weekend in Spain. He was six pounds over the limit.
Bedak, however, is a natural super bantamweight and has held the WBO Inter-Continental and European super bantamweight crowns. He is the fifth-ranked super bantamweight in the WBO rankings with Jesse Magdaleno at third and Filipino Albert Pagara at fourth.
?Bedak is a good fighter,? said Donaire Sr. ?I haven?t seen his style. I will watch his fights as soon as we start training.?
