Former multi-division world champion Nonito Donaire absolutely realizes that his profession is at stake when he faces Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC bantamweight world championship.
Their bout takes place on July 15 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Donaire vs. Santiago is the co-feature of a Showtime televised tripleheader, with the cardboard headlined by a WBC light-weight title eliminator between Frank Martin and Olympic bronze medalist Artem Harutyunyan.
Donaire will probably be trying to bounce again after getting crushed within the second spherical of his unification rematch with Naoya Inoue again in June of 2022.
Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs) has captured titles at flyweight, bantamweight, tremendous bantamweight and featherweight. He’ll look to make one other run at bantamweight after capturing the title with a Could 2021 knockout of Nordine Oubaali. Donaire’s earlier marketing campaign at bantamweight started in 2018 by upsetting then unbeaten champion Ryan Burnett in his hometown to seize a title as soon as once more, earlier than finally dropping the belt in his first matchup towards Inoue.
“I’m coming to the ring on July 15 to take that belt dwelling and there’s no second choice for me,” stated Donaire. “I’m grateful to my staff for this chance and I’ve been coaching exhausting to benefit from it. I’ve introduced in some actually quick fighters who’ve helped me put together, and my staff has actually centered on giving me some defensive pointers. I’m forward of schedule proper now and I can’t wait to get in there.”
A local of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KOs) will compete for a bantamweight crown for the primary time in his profession.
He enters this battle on a three-bout profitable streak since a majority choice loss to Gary Antonio Russell in November 2021. The 27-year-old had beforehand fought for a 115-pound championship in September 2018, battling Jerwin Ancajas to a split-draw. Santiago most lately avenged one of many attracts on his file, as he stopped Antonio Nieves in seven rounds final October.
“I wish to thank my entire staff for this superb alternative,” stated Santiago. “It has been a very long time coming. I’ve been ready for an additional world title alternative since my draw with Ancajas. Camp has been nice and I’m working extraordinarily exhausting. Additionally it is an amazing honor to have the ability to share the ring with one of many best of my era, Nonito Donaire. Nonetheless, that is my time to shine.”