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Philippines, 19 Feb 2026 |
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DONAIRE WANTS TO UNIFY FLYWEIGHT TITLE By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Wed, 28 Nov 2007  International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight champion Nonito ?Filipino Flash? Donaire, Jr. originally wanted to unify all flyweight titles, but World Boxing Council titlist Daisuke Naito, World Boxing Association king Takefumi Sakata and World Boxing Organization ruler Omar Narvaez refused to clash with him. Instead, he will take Luis ?Titi? Maldonado of Mexico on December 1 (December 2 Manila time) at Foxwood Hotel in Mashantucket, Connecticut. ?We?re trying to get one of the other flyweight champions to fight me,? said the 24-year-old Donaire. His knockout victory over Vic Darchiyan probably threatened the other flyweight champions and junior bantamweight champions. The champions and contenders in his weight class or in the next level certainly witnessed a champion with magnificent hand speed, excellent footwork and extraordinary knockout power. ?I want to be the first Filipino champion to have all the belts,? said Donaire. ?My main goal is unification and I want that more than anything.? The 29-year-old Maldonado earned his second chance to challenge for the IBF/IBO belts in the flyweight division after he won an eliminator over Sergio Espinoza on October 5 in Corona, California. Maldonado was badly cut and battered, according to Espinoza, and he was a beaten man. But it was Maldonado who was handed the favorable unanimous decision, leaving Espinoza surprised. Maldonado failed in his quest for two world titles last year. He figured in a majority draw with Cristian Mijares of Mexico in their WBC super flyweight title eliminator in February and then endured a horrible 8th round knockout loss to then IBF/IBO flyweight titlist Vic Darchinyan in June. Darchinyan was persistent from the opening bell and showered punches on Maldonado, who had a perfect record coming into the title fight. Darchinyan dropped Maldonado for the first time in his career in the 6th, and continuously hammering the challenger until the 8th when the referee stopped the fight. The 24-year-old Filipino will climb in the ring with a record of 18-1-1 with 11 knockouts. Maldonado, who is half-inch shorter in height compared to the champion, has 37-1-1 with 28 knockouts. Donaire disclosed he now gets more motivated knowing that Filipinos can watch his upcoming championship fight live. His fight with Darchinyan was only replayed on local TV after he won. But Donaire?s first title defense will be shown not only on Philippine TV but will also be aired on closed circuit TV inside the Araneta Coliseum during the ?Payback? boxing card featuring Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista against Antonio Meza. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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