MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. said he will push through with his fight against Guillermo Rigondeaux but clearly stated that from now on all his future opponents should agree on voluntary drug testing or forget about facing him inside the ring.
Donaire issued an official statement through Doghouse Boxing after issues on voluntary drug testing stood between him and Rigondeaux and put the fight, scheduled April 13 at Radio City in New York, in jeopardy.
Donaire said drug testing under VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) was part of the initial negotiations. He questioned Rigondeaux’s apparent insistence that the tests be conducted by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency).
The reigning WBO super-bantamweight champion from the Philippines said if he wanted to, he could have pulled the plug on the fight, and opted to fight someone else other than Rigondeaux, the WBA champion.
“The requirements of drug testing set forth in the negotiations for the fight with Rigondeaux were not met by the deadline of the press conference as agreed upon and I have the option of canceling the fight at this point,†said Donaire.
But for the sake of the fans and fight presentor HBO, Donaire said he will sign the contract and submit it to promoter Top Rank on Monday (today in Manila).
“I have decided to follow through with the fight in April out of respect for HBO and my fans who have bought tickets and travel. I will turn in my signed bout contract into Top Rank on Monday,†said Donaire, the 2012 Fighter of the Year.
Donaire said from now on, he will “mandate my opponents to enroll in drug testing before I agree to any fights.â€
He said there’s so much controversy involving the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in sports these days, and that what he’s insisting on is just part of everybody’s intention and desire to clear the sport of boxing of such.
Donaire is the first champion to put himself to year-round drug testing (24/7/365) and he’s hoping for his fellow boxers to do the same.
He said he never thought it was that difficult to ask a fighter, in this case Rigondeaux, to do voluntary drug tests under VADA.
“I did not expect it would be this hard to enforce drug testing on my opponent,†said Donaire, also clarifying that he’s not accusing Rigondeaux of taking illegal enhancers.
But Donaire rued the fact that so much time has been spent on the issue.
“I am disappointed that instead of jumping at the opportunity to make this a fight remembered as one that is trying to change the drug testing game, it turned into one that spent more time slinging insults,†he said.