WBO bantamweight title itinayasa laban nina Donaire at Juarez

MANILA, Philippines – Mas lalo pang magpupursige si dating world four division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. na talunin si Mexican fighter Cesar Juarez bukas sa Coliseo Roberto Clemente sa San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ito ay matapos ihayag ng World Boxing Organization na paglalabanan nina Donaire  (35-3-0, 23 KO’s) at Juarez (17-3-0, 13 KOs) ang bakanteng super bantamweight crown.

Matatandaang tinanggal ng WBO ang natu-rang korona kay two-time Olympic Games golds medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0-0, 10 KOs) matapos hindi lumaban sa loob ng 11 buwan.

Muling umakyat ng boxing ring ang 32-anyos na si Rigondeaux noong Nobyembre 22 kung saan niya tinalo si Filipino contender Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco (28-4-1, 22 KOs) sa kanilang ten-round, non-title fight sa Mandalay Bay sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tinalo ni Rigondeaux si Donaire noong 2013 sa kanilang light featherweight world title unification bout.

Ipinangako ng tubong Talibon, Bohol na si Donaire na gagawin niya ang lahat para muling makapagsuot ng world boxing belt.

Naisuko ni Donaire ang kanyang dating hawak na World Boxing Association featherweight belt kay Jamaican Nicholas Walters via sixth-round knockout noong 2013.

“I was searching for something. I was unsatisfied. I went home and re-dedicated myself to the sport,” sabi ni Donaire matapos ang naturang kabiguan kay Walters. “I worked harder in the gym. I got out bed early in the mornings and did my running.”

Idinagdag pa ng 32-an-yos na si Donaire na hindi siya magkukumpiyansa sa 24-anyos na si Juarez bagama’t may 20 laban lamang ito.

“My opponent is a tough guy and he is hungry like a wolf.  My job is to beat the wolf.  He’s actually ranked higher than me. He is No. 1 and I am No. 2. I must win on Friday night.  I am out of setbacks,” ani Donaire.

Si Donaire ay nahirang na 2012 Fighter of the Year matapos talunin sina Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka at Jorge Arce.

Hinawakan niya ang mga korona ng IBF/IBO flyweight, WBA interim super flyweight, WBO/WBC bantamweight, WBO/IBF super bantamweight at WBA featherweight.