Nonito Donaire is a national treasure when it comes to boxing. His fourth-round knockout of Nordine Oubaali, allowed Donaire to win the WBC bantamweight world title. The bout which was the main event of a Showtime card, live from the Dignity Health Sports Park, set the stage for Donaire to rematch Naoya Inoue.
This win saw Donaire win his ninth world title, across four weight classes, with his most successful division being the bantamweight division, the one he one this bout in.
The event averaged 217,000 viewers on Showtime. The win made Donaire the oldest bantamweight champion in the history of the sport.
Donaire, The Future HOF
Nonito Donaire has had roughly three hall-of-fame careers wrapped up into one career. Which is no small feat. Donaire started his career early on with a loss, but bounce back to defeat one of the most dominant flyweight world champions in the sport, Vic Darchinyan. Darchinyan had knocked out Nonitio’s brother, Glenn Donaire, who never really competed at a high level after that loss, so when Donaire a sizable underdog upset Darchinyan - it was massive.
Donaire would be voted the 2012 Boxer of the Year, but during his run to the top of the sport, would lose a wide decision to Guillermo Rigondeaux in a performance that hurt both fighters careers. Rigondeaux seemingly couldn’t get back on HBO, and Donaire was looked at as damaged goods. Donaire would leave Top Rank Inc after losing a close fight to Jessie Magdaleno, who win the WBO super bantamweight world title from Donaire. Two years later, Donaire looked about as bad as he ever did as a pro when he fought Carl Frampton and was a shell of himself.
A motivated, Nonito Donaire, entered the World Boxing Super Series tournament, and after defeating Ryan Burnett, and Stephon Young - fought a modern classic with Naoya Inoue in a fight that lasted all twelve rounds. The fight was hailed as a modern classic, and even in Donaire’s 30s, it was clear the legend, was still legendary. Donaire’s win over Oubaali in his late 30s was yet another impressive feat.
Oubaali
Sometimes the sport of boxing isn’t fair. Oubaali defeated Rau’shee Warren and Takuma Inoue, the brother of Naoya Inoue. These bouts flew under the radar, and his most notable bout that most saw was his getting knocked out by Donaire.
After this fight, Oubaali returned in April of this year, only to lose a split decision to a hand-selected opponent with 9-9 in Ricardo Martinez.
