MANILA, Philippines - Now they all want a piece of Nonito Donaire Jr.
Two other featherweight champions who saw action at the Cotai Arena in Macau last Saturday have expressed their eagerness to take on the Filipino boxer.
Evgeny Gradovich, a Russian-Mexican, and Nicolas Walters, a Jamaican, both said they want Donaire.
“Yeah, yeah,†said Gradovich as he rolled his baggage out of the Holiday Inn Hotel Sunday afternoon.
Gradovich was floored once by Belgium’s Alexander Miskirtchian but recovered well enough to keep the IBF featherweight crown.
Pinoy scribes also caught up with Walters as he checked out of his hotel with his team. He said he’d take on Donaire – anytime, anywhere.
“Absolutely. Yes,†said Walters, holder of the regular WBA featherweight crown who knocked out Vic Darchinyan to keep his belt.
“Anytime. Anytime they make the fight,†said Walters, shrugging his shoulders and spreading his arms.
Donaire is not backing off.
“I want to fight for all the title and fight all the guys in the featherweight class,†he said.
Donaire took a nasty cut on his left eye in the first round then floored Simpiwe Vetyeka in the fourth to pull off a technical unanimous decision and bag the WBA featherweight crown.
But even before the night was over, Donaire had offered the deposed champion from South Africa a rematch that may happen in November.
“I promised to give him a rematch,†said Donaire, who’s open to the possibility of fighting in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao show in Macau on Nov. 23.
Donaire said he’s willing to face all comers in the 126 lb division, and it’s also his goal to unify the titles. But he knows it’s not going to be easy.
“Defending is the most difficult thing because you have guys who want that belt,†said Donaire, who took a few headbutts from Vetyeka during the short fight.
“He’s not trying to be dirty. It’s just his boxing style,†said Donaire, who flew back to Manila the day after the fight, and then faced the press yesterday.
Vetyeka might have the first crack at Donaire and the title he lost Saturday.
Promoter Bob Arum said in an interview with ABS-CBN News that theDonaire-Vetyeka rematch will be held in Macau as part of a card for the next Pacquiao bout.