Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DONAIRE IS BACK ON TOP WITH THE WBA WORLD TITLE


PhilBoxing.com




Nonito Donaire (39-5, 25 KOs) wrested the WBA Super world bantamweight title from champion Ryan Burnett (19-1, 9 KOs) via a shocker fifth round stoppage on Saturday night in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight quarterfinal tournament at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Donaire?s firepower started to gain momentum after the first two rounds, which were quite close. He began to unload his deadly arsenal on Burnett in the third round, and he continuously landed those heavy punches in the fourth.

Burnett was forced to retire from the fight after four rounds of action due to what appeared to be a lower back injury as Burnett missed on a right hand and took a knee immediately, holding his lower back. The round ended and Burnett went back to his corner hurting.

His trainer Adam Booth had the fight stopped even though Burnett wanted to struggle for the fifth round. It was a wise move by Booth not to allow Burnett to come out for the fifth, as he was too injured to continue boxing.

Donaire showed very professional and gentlemanly gestures in the post-fight, repeatedly checking on Burnett's status even after his interview. Burnett was eventually carried on stretcher out of the ring.

Donaire now moves on to the semifinal round of the World Boxing Super Series, where he?ll face WBO titleholder Zolani Tete (28-3, 21 KO).

Donaire has now won three titles in the bantamweight division, the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles in 2011 and now the WBA (Super) bantamweight title. He also held the IBF flyweight title from 2007 to 2009, the IBF super bantamweight title in 2012, and the WBO super bantamweight title twice from 2012 to 2016.

In 2012 all award giving entities recognized Donaire as Fighter of the Year, given by Boxing Writers Association of America, ESPN, The Ring, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo! Sports. In 2011, his Round 2 KO against Fernando Montiel was awarded as Knockout of the Year by The Ring, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

In 2007, Donaire's Round 5 KO against Vic Darchinyan was recognized as The Ring Upset of the Year and The Ring Knockout of the Year. Also in 2007 he was awarded as World Boxing Hall of Fame, Most Outstanding Boxer of the Year.

Burnett is from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is a former unified bantamweight world champion, having held the WBA (Super) bantamweight title between 2017 and 2018, and the IBF bantamweight title from 2017 to 2018. He was also the British bantamweight title holder from 2015 to 2017.

As an amateur boxer, Burnett represented Ireland at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and won the light-flyweight gold medal. He also won the light-flyweight silver medal at the 2010 World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.