Nonito Donaire, 42, confirms plans to return

ORLANDO, Florida – Nonito Donaire took his seat in the front row of the rankings meeting at the WBA convention in Orlando, Florida, and waited patiently for his old division, the bantamweights, to come up for discussion. 

Following a request from Antonio Vargas’ team for its man, the interim titlist, to get a shot at full belt holder Seiya Tsutsumi, Donaire calmly rose, approached the mic and announced his comeback at the age of 42.

“I am Nonito Donaire and I am representing myself,” he said. “I request to be in the top five so I can have another chance at the title.”

Cheers and applause followed.

The likeable Donaire, 42-8 (28 KOs), last fought in July 2023 when he lost a 12-round decision to Alexandro Santiago in a bid for the vacant WBC bantamweight strap. Prior to that, in June 2022, he was stopped in two rounds by Naoya Inoue in the rematch of their 2019 barnburner. 

Donaire reigned as WBC titleholder heading into that Inoue rematch after knocking out Nordine Oubaali in May 2021.