Ni Gilbert Espeña
KASADO na sa Abril 7 ang laban ni Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire kontra sa dati ring kampeon na si Carl Frampton, ayon kay promoter Frank Warren.
Gaganapin ang laban sa Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Maglalaban ang dalawa sa 126 pounds division.
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Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan si Donaire, sumasabak sa pangangasiwa ngayon ni Richard Schaefer sa Ringstar Sports, sa naikasang laban kontra sa aniya’y matikas na si Frampton.
“He is an incredible fighter and I have always wanted to get in the ring with incredible guys. A lot of people are wanting to see this fight. I am ready,” pahayag ni Donaire sa panayam ng boxingscene.com.
Nasa pangangasiwa rin si Frampton ng bagong management matapos lumagda ng kontrata kay promoter Frank Warren at kasalukuyang sinasanay ng pamosong trainor na si Jamie Moore.
Para kay Donaire, ang laban ang unang hakbang upang makabalik muli sa pedestal matapos mabitiwan ang super bantameight title kay current WBO world champion Jessie Magdaleno nitong 2016.
Nagbalik sa 126 lbs. division si Donaire matapos ang laban kay Magdaleno.
Target ni Donaire na makakuha ng tsansa na labanan si IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby, na hawak din ni Warren.
“I would love to go out there. There is a huge possibility of that. Those guys are amazing and champions. You know how I am with champions. I love to fight champions. Hopefully we can get this with Frampton and then we can go back out there and fight (Lee) Selby,” sambit ni Donaire.
Nagpahayag naman ng interest ang Showtime na ipalabas sa pay-per-view ang naturang sagupaan.
“I think so,” sabi ni Showtime Sports chief Stephen Espinoza nang tanungin ng BoxingScene.com kung ipalalabas nang live ang sagupaan nina Donaire at Frampton.
‘’It was announced right before the holidays so we didn’t have any discussions about it but Donaire’s always been very talented, very athletic and he has a couple of good wins under his belt,” ani Espinoza. “He’s a big guy, he’s a tall order for Carl Frampton regardless of his inactivity.”
Sa kanyang huling laban, magaang na tinalo sa puntos ni Donaire si Mexican Ruben Hernandez nitong Setyembre 23 sa San Antonio samantalang bumagsak sa 7th round pero nanalo pa rin sa puntos si Frampton laban kay Horacio Garcia na isa ring Mexican noong nakaraang Nobyembre 18 sa Belfast, United Kingdom.
Naniniwala si Espinoza na ang magwawagi sa sagupaang Frampton-Donaire ay tiyak na muling lalaban sa world title bout lalo kung nakataya ang WBC International featherweight title ni Donaire.
“I think it’s an intriguing fight and I would definitely be interested in that business,” dagdag ni Espinoza.
