UNBEATEN prospect Jessie Magdaleno has once again called out Filipino superstar and World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr. to lure him to a world title fight.
The 24-year-old Magdaleno, the mandatory challenger of Donaire’s WBO title, is confident that he’ll get his world title shot and then dethrone the former “Fighter of the Year”.
?I don?t see any problem getting a title shot,? Magdaleno said in a report posted Fightnews.com. ?I?ve worked hard, I?m the mandatory challenger to Nonito?s title, hopefully the politics don?t prevent me for getting what I want.”
Magdaleno is ranked No. 1 in the WBO, No. 5 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) , No. 6 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 10 in the World Boxing Council (WBC).
?I want to fight Nonito. We as a team know that we have the tools to beat him and I want the WBO title. Look at my record, I?m 23-0 with 17 KOs. Donaire is a great fighter and I respect him, but I?m hungry and I believe that this is my time. That?s why I want to challenge him to fight,? said Magdaleno.
Nonito Donaire Sr., the father and trainer of Donaire Jr., loves the possibility of a Magdaleno fight. But he isn’t sure if Magdaleno can still make the 122-pound cut.
“This is good but it depends if he’ll make weight because he has a history of not making weight,” Donaire Sr. told Sun.Star Cebu.
Magdaleno hasn’t made the super bantamweight limit since 2015. The last time he made weight was in his fight with Erik Ruiz on January 10, 2015.
Donaire Sr. feels that a Donaire Jr. vs. Magdaleno fight would be a good one. But he believes his son has the edge with his power and his height.
?Nonito, I know you?re a great fighter, a warrior that always fights the best. You take on all comers and I believe you won?t back away from this challenge. Let?s fight! I deserve the opportunity and it will be a tremendous war. Let?s give the fans a great fight,” said Magdaleno.
Donaire Jr. is coming off an impressive third round stoppage over WBO No. 4 rated super bantamweight Zsolt Bedak last April 23at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Magdaleno’s manager Frank Espinoza is optimistic that the fight with Donaire Jr. and Magdaleno will be made.
?We are looking foward to the mandatory fight. We know the WBO is a serious organization and they will do what?s right. We as a team will push for Jessie to get the fight against Donaire, he has worked hard to get to this position and he deserves it.?
