Nonito Donaire Remains Keen On Sunny Edwards Bout: ‘I’m Always Open To Fights’
Filipino legend Nonito Donaire has revealed he is still interested in fighting Sunny Edwards, but insisted any bout would have to take place at a “mutually agreed-upon weight”.
Donaire (42-8-0 28 KO) is one of the finest fighters of his generation, winning world titles in four divisions, including being the first three-time bantamweight world champion and the weight class’s oldest title holder at the age of 38.
Now 41 years old and approaching the final stages of his Hall of Fame career, Donaire has lost his two most recent fights; he got stopped in the second round by then undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in June 2022, and most recently, lost a close points decision to Alexandro Santiago in July last year for the vacant WBC 118lbs title.
However, Donaire still has plenty of pulling power and earlier this year, Edwards stated that he would like to face the ‘Filipino Flash’.
Edwards ‘100 Per Cent’ Interested
Speaking after his unification flyweight world title bout against Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in December, Edwards told BoxingKingMedia: “Nonito Donaire is a fighter I would 100 per cent explore.
“I wouldn’t ask the 41-year-old to come back down to where he was when he was, like, 25. He used to be a flyweight, okay, he’s been a bit bigger than flyweight right now.
“People will think I’m just chasing that money, I’m not,” Edwards added. “The biggest events should be the biggest fights.”
After exchanging communication through social media over their shared interest in a bout, Donaire has reiterated his desire to fight Edwards.
“He had called me out,” Donaire told BoxingScene. “Of course, I responded, calling him out and Eddie Hearn to make the fight happen, but we haven’t heard anything since.
Donaire Would Seek Weight Compromise
“I’m always open to fights. That’s just how I am – if they’re willing to do it, I’m there,” added Donaire, who was serving as assistant coach to Gabriel Flores Jr in Stockton, California where the lightweight contender defeated Ronal Ron in an eight-round bout at Banner Island Ballpark.
One of the major sticking points for any potential fight between Donaire and Edwards would be the weight. The 28-year-old British fighter is a seasoned flyweight having fought at 112lbs for much of his career and where he held the IBF world title between 2021 and 2023, although he has also operated at super-flyweight.
Meanwhile, Donaire has not fought at flyweight since April 2009 – more than seven years before Edwards turned professional – and is more comfortable at the 118lbs bantamweight limit.
“I mean, that’s where my first world title was, but that was many moons ago,” Donaire said. “So, it would have to be at a mutually agreed-upon weight.”
At his peak, Donaire was among the best boxers on the planet. He has held nine world titles across four different divisions and was ranked third in The Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings in 2011. In 2012, he was named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
