Home Boxing News Nonito Donaire sees Alexandro Santiago as a stepping stone to becoming undisputed

Nonito Donaire sees Alexandro Santiago as a stepping stone to becoming undisputed

Nonito Donaire lands on Nordine Oubaali. Photo credit: AFP via Getty Images

Evergreen Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 42-7 (28) is looking to add more hardware to his overflowing trophy cabinet when he takes on Alexandro ‘Peque’ Santiago 27-3-5 (14) for the vacant WBC bantamweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

The fight will be the main support bout to the blockbuster showdown between WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight kingpin Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 28-0 (22) and WBO boss Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford.

The 40-year-old Filipino holds the rare distinction of winning world title bouts in all three decades he had competed in, with championship victories coming in the flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight division.

The ageless warrior will be looking to add to his legacy on Saturday.

“Everybody showed up to dance around, but I’m going to show all of these guys what this old man can do,” Donaire said.

“I’m going to keep going. I’m going to keep fighting and I’m going to get that undisputed bantamweight title. That’s the only thing I have not done. I’ve done everything else – Fighter of the Year, Knockout of the Year, multiple divisions unified.”

Mexico’s Santiago, 27, will be out to upset those plans.

“I fully respect a legend like Donaire outside the ring no matter what, but inside the ring, my hunger to win is unparalleled and I don’t care who is in front of me,” Santiago said.

“It is an advantage that I am young, but Donaire’s a very dangerous fighter regardless of his age. I’m not about to underestimate him because he punches really hard and can be very dangerous if you let him.”

Donaire will be competing for one of the four championship belts left behind by Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue 25-0 (22) when he moved up in weight to face WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen ‘Cool Boy’ Fulton 21-1 (8) in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Inoue, who holds a decision win and a knockout victory over Donaire, was at his clinical best against Fulton, stopping him in eight.

Donaire reflecting on his bouts against Inoue and the Japanese superstar’s place in the game.

“The fun fight and the toughest fight was Inoue because he was right in front of you and he’ll give and take what you give him,” said Donaire.

“He can crack real good and he’s got that lightning-fast hand. I got to rate him very high. I wasn’t surprised because I know he has the power like I do and I know he can end fights at any moment.

“I wasn’t surprised because I know he’s capable of it. At the same time, I know that Fulton is the bigger guy going in there. So, I put a lot of calculations into that, but obviously, Inoue came in there very strong.

“The thing is, he holds back on that strength too. That’s the power that he has. Hopefully, I can dance again [with Inoue]. That’s ahead of me right now, but that’s one of the challenges I want to impose on myself.

“Right now, I don’t have the right to challenge him. I wanted to win in the way that I did. I gambled and got caught, and that’s how it is. The guy is amazing and that’s for sure.

Despite his desire to unify, Donaire insists he is not overlooking Santiago.

“I believe I have a great game plan going into this fight. That’s what I want to show [a vintage knockout], but I’m not going in to show anybody up,” Doanire said.

“I would get this one and then [WBA bantamweight champion] Takuma Inoue and then whoever else and then [WBO bantamweight champion] Jason Moloney or whoever gets the IBF. I’m still going to go for all the belts.”