Donaire Says Rigondeaux Revenge Rematch is a Career Priority

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO super bantamweight world champion Nonito Donaire (36-3, 23KOs) would love to have a rematch with two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10KOs).

The two boxers faced each other in April of 2013 in a WBA/WBO super bantamweight unification. Rigondeaux boxed his way to a twelve round unanimous decision to walk away with both belts.

Since that time, Rigondeaux's career has stagnated a bit due to inactivity. He's only fought four times since the bout with Donaire. In the other end, Donaire has been in the ring six times and has his seventh bout coming up on April 23rd against Zsolt Bedak.

"Definitely [I want the rematch with Rigondeaux], I think that right now I’m a different fighter with a different mentality. Physically I am different, I feel great, I feel strong, I feel motivated, and I think that’s a big difference. Now I am better than better before. The motivation, inspiration, and the whole mentality is so much different," Donaire told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

Following the loss to Rigondeaux, Donaire moved up to the featherweight division and captured a world title. After getting knocked out by Nicholas Walters in 2014, he moved back to 122-pounds and picked up his current title with a decision win over Cesar Juarez last December.

"It definitely is my best. I’m not big enough for 126lbs, I barely walk around at 130lbs. I was just pushing it because if I had the older style of being fast, it would be easier for me to fight at 126lbs because it’s hard to hit me, but it’s still bigger at that 126 level. Eventually my body will go up to it and I can put the put the time to gain weight so I’m comfortable at 126lbs and then we may move up, but for now this is the best weight for me as a fighter," Donaire said.