New Twist: Donnie Brasco Triumphs in Demolishing 40-Year-Old Bantamweight Crown
The veteran former four-weight world champion claims he is far from done in the sport as he eyes future glory.
Catching Nonito Donaire off guard is no easy task. The “Filipino Flash” has lived under boxing’s unforgiving spotlight for more than 25 years, batting away thousands of questions from reporters with the same calm composure he once showed against the sport’s most dangerous punchers. Still, even the most routine fight-week exchange can take an unexpected turn.
On the Monday before his latest return to the ring, a simple slip of the tongue proved surprisingly revealing. Asked — mistakenly — how his body was holding up at 53, Donaire didn’t correct the question straight away. Instead, he leaned into the accidental prophecy.
“Hey, don’t be surprised if we are having the same chat ten years from now,” Donaire said with a smirk down the camera. For the record, the future Hall of Famer actually turned 43 last November. But he’s convinced the engine is still humming nicely.
“Because to be honest, I feel amazing at the moment,” he added. “My body, my mind — everything. ” Donaire (43-9, 28 KOs) returns to action Sunday in Yokohama, Japan, where he faces Riku Masuda (9-1, 8 KOs) at bantamweight, featuring on the undercard of the U-Next Boxing 5 card — headlined by Anthony Olascuaga’s WBO flyweight title defense against Jukiya Iimura.
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