NONITO Donaire Jr. is thrilled of adding another title to his illustrious boxing career when he takes on reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight undisputed champion Simpiwe Vetyeka on May 31 at the Venetian Resort?s Cotai Arena in Macau, China.
Fighting for only the second time in the 126-pound division, Donaire (32 wins, two losses with 21 knockouts [KOs]) will be up against Mdantsane-born Vetyeka of South Africa (26-2, with 16 KOs).
?I feel better with this weight. I intend to see and feel my way with this weight, but I am targeting and hoping to climb another weight class next year,? said Donaire during Tuesday?s media briefing of the eight-card Featherweight Fury event at Edsa Shangri-La?s Garden Ballroom,
?I intend to climb another weight class. My body gets bigger as I get older. It?s getting harder to lose weight as I age.?
Vetyeka will be making his first title defense of the WBA and International Boxing Organization (IBO) featherweight crowns after winning the crown on December 6 last year, where he forced Indonesian Chris John to retire after six rounds.
Donaire fought Vic Darchinyan (39-6-1, with 28 KOs), who is featured in one of the undercard bouts next month, at 126 lb where he defeated his Armenian opponent by technical knockout in their rematch in November 9.
Darchinyan will be facing undefeated Jamaican Nicholas Walters (23-0, with 19 KOs) for the WBA interim world featherweight title in the co-main event, while Russian Evgeny Gradovich (18-0, with nine KOs) will defend his International Boxing Federation featherweight belt against Alexander Miskirtchian of Belarus (24-2-1, with nine KOs).
Japan?s Yasutaka Ishimoto (24-6, seven KOs) clashes with California bet Chris Avalos (23-2, 17 KOs) in a 12-round nontitle bout in the super-bantamweight division.
Hong Kong native Rex Tso (9-0, six KOs) will face Atsushi Kakutani of Japan (14-4-1, seven KOs) in a 10-round fight for the WBO Asia Pacific super-flyweight crown.
?I am just glad to fight at the same arena where Nonito [Donaire Jr.] is fighting. I know I will learn a lot from him,? said Tso, who is managed by Aljoe Jaro, through an interpreter after greeting the crowd in Filipino.
Macau?s Kuok Kun Ng is also featured in a four-round super-welterweight bout against a still-undetermined foe. ?I feel the passion from my hometown and I am looking forward to fight. I will try my best to win.? Jonathan Perez
China?s Ik Yang (13-0, eight KOs) and Steve Kelly of Australia (5-1) will meet Thai bet Petch Duanaaymukdahan (8-2, one KO) and Brazil?s Esquiva Falcao (1-0, one KO) respectively in a pair of six-round middleweight bouts.
