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Op-Ed: Who will Nonito Donaire will fight next?

Donaire, who was dominating the bantamweight division since 2011, lost to Cuban ex-Olympian Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013 — his last fight in the 118-pound limit.

In the same year Donaire dominated Vic Darchinyan in a rematch, followed by another win over Simpiwe Vetyeka last year in the super featherweight limit of 126 pounds.

Although he won over Vetyeka in the super featherweight limit, his moves were noticeably slower unlike in his previous fights where he exhibited speed and ease in mobility.

Last year, Donaire suffered a major devastating knockout loss to Nicholas Walters in another super featherweight title fight.

Donaire and his father-trainer knew then that he isn’t made to excel in the featherweight weight limit and made the critical decision to move down to super bantamweight where he is more comfortable.

Donaire’s win over William Prado of Brazil last Saturday proves that he isn’t comfortable in the featherweight division.

Now Donaire is determined to stay in the super bantamweight where more lucrative fights await him.

The division shows his former detractor Guillermo Rigondeaux on top of the Ring’s ratings followed by Carl Framton of UK and Leo Sarta Cruz in the third spot.

Donaire has several options but the fight that brings more money would be Leo Santa Cruz, who has an impressive career record of 29-0-1 with 17 KOs.

Santa Cruz has defended his WBC super bantamweight title four times since he knocked out Victor Tedrrazas in 2013 to win the title.

Donaire’s other options would be a rematch against Rigondeaux or Carl Fampton, the second ranked in the super bantamweight limit. But the Cuban has a low fan base and is a boring fighter to watch which could prevent the fight from happening as promoters would be uncertain about the fights financial viability.

But since Donaire has a good following, other fighters in the lower or higher limit could try to slide to the division for a money-making fight against Donaire, who has become a pay-per-view attraction prior to his loss against Rigondeaux.

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