World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight king Nonito Donaire is gunning for a fifth crown in a fifth weight class not because he would easily win it but because he wants it for his legacy.
Fresh from dismantling fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo in Carson, California, Donaire is putting premium on unifying all the belts at bantamweight but is eager to drop down in weight and capture a fifth crown.
“I think he can do it,” Donaire’s chief handler, wife and training team member Rachel said.
The winner of world titles at flyweight (112 lbs), bantam (118), super-bantam (122) and feather (126), Donaire is training his sights on a fifth: Super-fly (115) Donaire did win a title at super-fly but his reign was on an interim basis only and his team now wants to win a regular championship in a bid to make him a five-division titleholder.
“First, I don’t think we are doing it because of a natural advantage. We are doing it because that was the division he could not get that 115-lb title. We are not doing it for any other advantages. This is just for his legacy. That’s what we are after,” Rachel said.
The reigning champions at 115 are Juan Jose Estrada of Mexico (WBC and World Boxing Association), Jerwin Ancajas (International Boxing Federation) and Kazuto Ioka (World Boxing Organization).
But before he goes down to 115, Donaire, who is almost 40 years old, will attempt to add to the WBC the straps from the three other governing bodies.
Probellum president Richard Schaefer, who runs Donaire’s affairs, is amenable to Donaire’s wishes. “We are going to be open-minded,” he said.
