Hahamunin ni five-division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. si undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion Oscar Valdez ng Mexico sa Marso sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ito ang kondisyon ni Top Rank big boss Bob Arum sa “The Filipino Flash” na kung mananalo kay Valdez ay bibigyan niya ng pagkakataon sa rematch kay WBO super bantamweight champion Jessie Magdaleno.
“We are trying to arrange Donaire a featherweight championship fight against Oscar Valdez this March,” sabi ni Arum sa BoxingScene.com.
Tinalo ni Magdaleno sa kontrobersiyal na 12-round unanimous decision si Donaire kahit wala siyang ginawa kundi umiwas nang umiwas sa mga suntok ng Pinoy boxer noong nakaraang Nobyembre 5 sa Thomas & Mack Center sa Las Vegas din.
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“If he wins against Valdez, a possible rematch against Magdaleno might be next,” dagdag ni Arum. “That is the plan and there’s no immediate Donaire-Magdaleno rematch for the moment. This is really a big year for Top Rank boxers all around the world, a lot of activity and a lot of things that will happen in Australia, New Zealand England and France.”
Ngunit tutol ang ama at dating trainer ni Donaire na si Nonito “Nonong” Donaire Sr. dahil naniniwala siyang napakaliit ng kanyang anak sa featherweight division.
“I don’t like to say something regarding this matter but he is too small in that weight class, which is ruled by the big guys. His natural weight is at super bantamweight. At the same time, his talent is decreasing,” diin ng nakatatandang Donaire. “Valdez is very strong and his body shots are powerful. I don’t want to say anything but that’s a tough opponent.”
Naging WBA featherweight champion si Donaire noong 2014 nang talunin niya sa 5th round technical decision si South African Simpiwe Vetyeka sa Macao, China pero sa unang depensa ay pinatulog siya ng mas malaking si Nichols Walters ng Jamaica sa 6th round sa Carson, California.
Nagbalik si Donaire sa super bantamweight division at nakuha ang WBO title nang dalawang beses pabagsakin sa 4th round si Mexican Cesar Juarez para manalo sa puntos noong Disyembre 11, 2015 sa San Juan, Puerto Rico.
May rekord si Donaire na 37-4-0 win-loss-draw na may 24 sa knockout samantalang si Valdez ay may kartadang 21 panalo, 9 sa pamamagitan ng knockout. (Gilbert Espeña)
