Former world champion Nonito Donaire is set to face Zsolt Bedak in April in the Philippines. And once he gets past Bedak, the Filipino boxing superstar said that he will face the best fighters in the super bantamweight division.
Donaire, who is the reigning World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion, told On The Ropes Boxing Radio that he is eyeing a showdown with International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton.
"We might just fight a guy who is holding a title, it could be Frampton, or anybody who's fighting for a title or who's holding a title," Donaire said.
The 33-year-old world champion added that he is also interested in a rematch with Guillermo Rigondeaux because he wants to be number one fighter in the division. Donaire took a humbling unanimous decision loss to Rigondeaux during their world title fight in April 2013.
Almost three years after their first showdown, Donaire feels that he is ready to face Rigondeaux again, saying that he is a better fighter now and is more motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
"I think that right now I'm a different fighter with a different mentality," Donaire added. "Physically I am different, I feel great, I feel strong, I feel motivated, and I think that's a big difference. Now I am better than better before. The motivation, inspiration, and the whole mentality is so much different."
Donaire, who holds a 36-3 record with 23 knockout victories, is coming off a unanimous decision win against Cesar Juarez during their fight for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title in December in Puerto Rico. Before winning against Juarez, Donaire also knocked out William Prado and Anthony Settoul in March and July, respectively.
The Talibon, Bohol native has fought at 122 pounds after losing the WBA featherweight title via a knockout loss to Nicholas Walters in October 2014. Donaire feels that the super bantamweight division is the best fit for him.
"It definitely is my best. I'm not big enough for 126lbs, I barely walk around at 130lbs," Donaire said. "I was just pushing it because if I had the older style of being fast, it would be easier for me to fight at 126lbs because it's hard to hit me, but it's still bigger at that 126 level."
Donaire, who is the reigning World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion, told On The Ropes Boxing Radio that he is eyeing a showdown with International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton.
"We might just fight a guy who is holding a title, it could be Frampton, or anybody who's fighting for a title or who's holding a title," Donaire said.
The 33-year-old world champion added that he is also interested in a rematch with Guillermo Rigondeaux because he wants to be number one fighter in the division. Donaire took a humbling unanimous decision loss to Rigondeaux during their world title fight in April 2013.
Almost three years after their first showdown, Donaire feels that he is ready to face Rigondeaux again, saying that he is a better fighter now and is more motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
"I think that right now I'm a different fighter with a different mentality," Donaire added. "Physically I am different, I feel great, I feel strong, I feel motivated, and I think that's a big difference. Now I am better than better before. The motivation, inspiration, and the whole mentality is so much different."
Donaire, who holds a 36-3 record with 23 knockout victories, is coming off a unanimous decision win against Cesar Juarez during their fight for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title in December in Puerto Rico. Before winning against Juarez, Donaire also knocked out William Prado and Anthony Settoul in March and July, respectively.
The Talibon, Bohol native has fought at 122 pounds after losing the WBA featherweight title via a knockout loss to Nicholas Walters in October 2014. Donaire feels that the super bantamweight division is the best fit for him.
"It definitely is my best. I'm not big enough for 126lbs, I barely walk around at 130lbs," Donaire said. "I was just pushing it because if I had the older style of being fast, it would be easier for me to fight at 126lbs because it's hard to hit me, but it's still bigger at that 126 level."
window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"8c3b2373fb","applicationID":"8551210","transactionName":"NFJbZEsHVhAAU0JdCg0YbEJQSVAMDFUZRAkWUFBeFgNcChVfRBsPEFRLWUkSS0wVWVhNOg5UXB9JCk0ECF5FGxUCRE1VFgRUAg9bGFwRDg==","queueTime":0,"applicationTime":11,"atts":"GBVYEgMdRR4=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}
