Nonito Donaire Meeting with Promoters, Decision Coming Soon

By Steve Kim

Recently Nonito Donaire (37-4, 24 KOs) became a promotional free agent ending a long and productive run with Top Rank that began in 2008. Back in November 5th at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Donaire dropped a twelve round decision to Jesse Magdaleno for the WBO super bantamweight title.

So now Donaire is looking for a new promoter and his wife Rachel tells BoxingScene.com - "We've been having a lot of meetings. I've met a lot of interesting people and the landscape of boxing is very deep with a lot of opportunities."

She says that they have met with major promoters but declined to reveal which ones but Ms.Donaire says the market is bullish for them.

"I've always believed this wasn't the last leg Nonito was standing on, this last fight. We all know he can be at 126 (pounds) as long as he has the proper time and training to be there. I know a lot of the other promoters see that," she stated."He's still a big name, he's still a draw. Anything can happen, just like the (Vic)Darchinyan rematch when Nonito was sick and he had to fight and he was losing on all cards  - I knew he was losing - and out of nowhere he knocks him out.

"So Nonito is by far nowhere near as easy fight and I think a lot of promoters know that."

The hope is to get a deal done as soon as possible and in the ring before the summer.

"I want to wrap it up within the next two weeks, honestly," said Donaire, who's husband has won titles in multiple weight classes and has a record of 37-4(24 KO's)."We wasted time and weren't able to land the fight in the first quarter, we definitely want to get a fight in the second quarter and continue his career. Of course, we want to keep him active so he doesn't get rusty and doesn't go into a big fight with all this ring rust on him.

"So we'll make a decision soon on where he'll go next."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.