By Ponciano C. Melo Jr.
Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire is set to make history once again as he eyes the WBC bantamweight championship at the age of 40.
On July 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Donaire will face off against Alexandro Santiago in a bid to become a two-time WBC bantamweight champion.
The much-anticipated bout between Donaire and Santiago will be part of a stacked fight card headlined by the highly awaited showdown between Errol Spence and Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship.
Originally scheduled for a different event, the Donaire-Santiago matchup was moved to the Spence-Crawford card due to the postponement of the bout between Jesus Ramos and Sergio Garcia. Despite the change in venue, the significance of the clash remains undiminished.
Donaire is no stranger to breaking records. On May 29, 2021, at the age of 38, he stunned the world by knocking out Nordine Oubaali and claiming the WBC bantamweight title.
This victory made him the oldest living champion in the 118-pound division. However, he later relinquished the belt in a rematch against Naoya Inoue.
With Inoue moving to the super bantamweight division, the WBC bantamweight title is now vacant, providing Donaire with a chance to reclaim the crown and solidify his status as the oldest bantamweight champion.
However, standing in his way is the determined Alexandro Santiago.
Santiago came close to dethroning another Filipino boxer, Jerwin Ancajas, for the IBF junior bantamweight title in 2018, narrowly escaping with a controversial split draw.
As Donaire and Santiago prepare to collide in the ring, fans can expect an intense and memorable battle between two skilled warriors.
Donaire’s legacy as a boxing legend is on the line, while Santiago aims to make a name for himself on the biggest stage of his career.
The stage is set for an epic night of boxing, as two fighters from different generations vie for glory. Donaire’s quest to become a two-time WBC bantamweight champion and Santiago’s hunger to secure a career-defining victory promise to make this showdown a must-watch event for fight fans worldwide.
The T-Mobile Arena will bear witness to history as these warriors leave everything in the ring in pursuit of victory and legacy.