Nonito Donaire has not closed the door on a possible fight with Sunny Edwards after the two went back and forth on social media earlier in the year, and even though the boxers are separated by two weight classes.
Donaire last fought on July 29, 2023, losing a unanimous decision to Alejandro Santiago on the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs) was open to a fight with Donaire after being stopped by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in December and returned to defeat Adrian Curiel in June. Despite suffering a cut in the fight, Edwards, 28, won a one-sided decision.
“He had called me out,” Donaire told BoxingScene. “Of course, I responded, calling him out and Eddie Hearn to make the fight happen, but we haven’t heard anything since.”
“Nonito Donaire is a fighter I would 100 per cent explore,” Edwards told BoxingKingMedia. “I wouldn’t ask the 41-year-old to come back down to where he was when he was, like, 25. He used to be a flyweight, okay, he’s been a bit bigger than flyweight right now.
“People will think I’m just chasing that money, I’m not,” Edwards said. “The biggest events should be the biggest fights.”
Donaire, 41, serving as an assistant coach for Gabriel Flores Jr., was in Stockton, California, as Flores (24-2, 8 KOs) won an eight-round unanimous decision over Ronal Ron (14-7, 11 KOs in the first-ever fight at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton. Donaire further clarified his stance on a potential clash with Edwards.
“I’m always open to fights,” Donaire said. “That’s just how I am – if they’re willing to do it, I’m there.”
Donaire has not competed at flyweight since April 2009, when he knocked out Raul Martinez in four rounds in the Philippines. Edwards has not fought above bantamweight in developmental bouts but has expressed readiness to move up in weight to challenge Donaire.
“I mean, that’s where my first world title was, but that was many moons ago,” Donaire admitted. “So, it would have to be at a mutually agreed-upon weight.”
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