SAN DIEGO, Calif., May 28, 2021 – While boxing fans fixate on heavyweights and celebrity fights, they risk missing the biggest and best action in the sport found in the smaller weight divisions.
In 2019, four-division champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire and world bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan delivered an all-action Fight of the Year. Although Donaire lost, he left a positive impression after taking on one of the world’s best pound-for-pound talents, a man more than a decade younger who went home with a broken orbital bone thanks to Donaire’s power.
Now age 38, Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) shows no signs of slowing down. He challenges himself again Saturday against WBC Bantamweight World Champion Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) for another chance at winning a world title on Saturday on Showtime Boxing from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The card starts at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT.
If Donaire wins, he will become the oldest man ever to win a bantamweight title. The accomplished former champion is more fired up than ever, thanks partly to the long break forced on him by the coronavirus pandemic. He says he’s hungrier than ever and has all the skills he needs along with valuable, hard-won experience.
Donaire: ‘Ain’t no stopping me’
“It would be great to win the title at 38 years old and become the oldest champion at 118 pounds, but let’s keep it going. Let’s make it 40. Let’s make it 42. There ain’t no stopping me,” said Donaire, who credits his strong will and confidence for giving him the edge.
“The reason why I can compete with anybody is because I keep myself healthy, and I work hard. There’s nothing less than 100 percent every time I’m in that gym,” said Donaire. “I’m very hard-headed, so I don’t always do what people tell me to do. People can say that it’s their time. But I also have my time, and I’m always going to be the one who concedes their time or makes that decision. It’s still my time.”
Oubaali: ‘I want to win more’
Oubaail comes in as the champion, but the French fighter is not as well known in the United States. Saturday’s fight is his second stateside. He acknowledges Donaire’s accomplishments but believes he will retain his title.
“Yes, he’s had an outstanding career, and he has power, but I believe I have more power than him,” said Oubaali. “I know I have the power. He’s a good boxer, but I’m the world champion, and on Saturday, I’m going to show the world who is the best.
“The difference in the fight is going to be I want to win more. I want to continue to make history and stay as the world champion in this division. I know that it’s my time. I want this more than he does,” claimed Oubaali.
Listening to Donaire the last week, it’s doubtful Oubaali is hungrier than the veteran. It oozes out of his pores. “Oubaali is the champion for a reason. He’s been through it in terms of the amateurs and making it here,” said Donaire. “So we’re not underestimating any of that.
“But I’ve fought in this venue many times, and I always make magical fights in the first place. It’s always going to be magical with me. I’m a unicorn. The difference in this fight is going to be my hunger. He’s younger than me, but I have the hunger. We both have an objective, and that’s what’s going to make this a great fight.”
Without a doubt, fans will be treated to a barn burner. Both are all action, and at the infamous Carson War Grounds, we’re in for a StubHub special. Will it be the champion or the hungry veteran? Does Oubaali have the skills? Does Donaire still have the magic?
Prediction: Donaire will get it done
In his last fight, Nonito Donaire came close to defeating one of the best boxers on the planet and gave him all he could handle. His resume dwarfs Oubaali’s 17 fights. While much is made of Donaire’s age, Oubaali is only four years younger at age 34. The French fighter didn’t turn pro until age 28 in 2014. Donaire had already won titles in four divisions by then.
As long as Donaire is as fit as he claims, he will give Oubaali all he can handle. There’s no reason not to believe him. After eight years fighting at super bantamweight and featherweight, Donaire has returned to the 118-pound division. At this weight, he’s only lost once to Inoue. It’s his best division, and despite being a betting underdog, Donaire’s confidence is undeniable. He’s never been a blowhard.
Oubaali won the vacant title over Rau’shee Warren, not the most formidable opponent in the division. He is technically sound, thanks to a long amateur career. But Ouballi hasn’t walked through the kind of fire Donaire will bring. Like his countryman Manny Pacquiao, Donaire still shows impressive speed. The Carson crowd will be squarely behind Donaire, and it will be a little extra wind when he needs it. Bet on the Filipino Flash to win the title in a barnburner decision victory.
