FORMER world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. resumes his bid to regain lost glory as he climbs back into the ring two weeks from now topbilling an exciting fight card in Cotai Arena in Macau.
The 32-year-old Filipino will be up against Anthony Settoul of France in a 10-round bantamweight bout which serves as Donaire’s second fight this year in his return to the 122-lbs. division.
The former Fighter of the Year is coming off a second-round knockout win over William Prado last March 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum following his unsuccessful attempt to retain the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-featherweight title against Nicholas Walters of Jamaica.
The KO loss to the bigger, power-punching Walters prompted the ‘Filipino Flash’ to revert to super-bantamweight where he won some of his spectacular fights as a five-time world champion.
Currently ranked no. 3 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Donaire carries a ring record of 34-3 with 22 KOs.
This marks the second time the Filipino will be seeing action in Macau, where he won the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title last year by dethroning South African Simpiwe Vetyeka.
Settoul is a former French and European Union bantamweight champion, who will be making his Asian debut.
The native of Clermont-Ferrand, France has a record of 20-3, with eight KOs, although he won six of his last nine bouts by way of knockout.
Donaire was already a world champion when Settoul made his pro debut in 2008. The French has only fought outside of France just once.
The camp of Donaire is looking for an impressive win against Settoul in the hopes of getting a possible world title shot before the year ends.
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