Nonito Donaire wants to break free from the company of four-division world champions by adding a fifth title to his growing collection.
Having won belts at flyweight (112 lbs), bantam (118), super-bantam (122) and feather (126), Donaire, who turned 40 late last year, is targeting the super-fly (115) strap to make him a five-division titlist, one more than another accomplished Filipino fighter in Donnie Nietes and just three less than eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao and one short of six-timer Oscar De La Hoya.
“I want to win my fifth division (world crown). I want to challenge the 115 (pound World Boxing Council champion) Juan Francisco Estrada (of Mexico) and even Marcos Maidana’s fighter (International Boxing Federation champion) Fernando Martinez (of Argentina),” Donaire told DAZN over the weekend.
Donaire came close to having won the super-fly throne more than a decade ago when he was the interim World Boxing Association ruler from August 2009 until July 2010.
Before he could become a regular champion a few sensational wins, Donaire decided to campaign at bantam, leaving him unfulfilled at 115.
As Donaire enters the twilight of a Hall of Fame career, he is attempting one ambitious run at a world title by becoming a legit titleholder at 115.
Last time Donaire was in action, the Filipino-American puncher suffered a savage knockout loss to Naoya Inoue last June in Saitama, Japan.
Armed with a 42-7 record with 28 knockouts, Donaire will enter a fight with either Estrada or Martinez not as feared as before owing to his loss to Inoue and his risky move of going down in weight.
But Donaire can’t be totally counted out as he has several times pulled off huge victories just when everyone thought he was running low on championship fuel.
Among those who have won at least five world titles in as many weight class includes bitter rivals Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.
