Gradovich’s win over Galicia could have solidified his wish for a lucrative fight against Donaire but his sluggishness in the ring indicates he won’t be competitive in the weight limit that Donaire wants the fight to be made.
Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin told Boxing Scene that Gradovich weighed 128 pounds when he faced Galicia. Apparently Dunkin isn’t impressed by his performance despite the win and he feels that Gradovich will have a hard time making it to 122 pounds.
Earlier, Dunkin has turned to Zsolt Bedak (25-1-0, 8 KOs) of Hungary as possible replacement for Gradovich.
“I’m going forward on Bedak and I think I can get it done,” said Dunkin, who waited for the result of the Gradovich-Galicia fight before naming Donaire’s next opponent.
Bedak is coming off a unanimous decision win over Nick Otieno in a 10-round fight at the Dr.Papp Laszlo Sporthall, Szentes in Hungary.
The 32-year-old Hungarian represented his country in the 2004 Olympics where he defeated Abner Mares of Mexico in the round of 32.
After turning pro in 2006, Bedak won 15 straight fights. In 2010 he suffered his first loss to Wilfredo Vázquez, Jr. in a WBO super bantamweight title fight.
Donaire is coming off a unanimous decision win over Cesar Juarez of Mexico at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico to win the Won vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title.
If a deal is made with Bedak, it could be Donaire’s fourth successive win since losing to Nicholas Walters in 2014 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
