Match tentatively set Oct 18 in Carson City: Donaire faces unbeaten Walters

MANILA, Philippines - WBA “super” world featherweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. will take on fellow champion Nicholas Walters of Jamaica on Oct. 18 in Carson City, California, a boxing website reported Thursday.

According to a report by Philboxing.com, Donaire will face Walters, who holds the “regular” version of the WBA featherweight title, as a co-featured bout of a card headlined by a middleweight clash between WBO middleweight boss Gennady Golovkin and Marco Antonio Rubio.

The card will reportedly be held at the Stub Hub Center in Carson City.

The undefeated Walters, who hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica, saw action in the undercard of Donaire’s fight with Simpiwe Vetyeka last June in Macau, knocking out Vic Darchinyan in the fifth round to retain his title.

In a fine display of punching power and skill, Walters (24-0, with 20 knockouts) decked Darchinyan twice – in the second and fifth rounds – en route to the dominant victory. In the main event, Donaire took Vetyeka’s crown via a fifth round technical decision win.

The Filipino-American fighter earlier said he prefers a unification bout  over a tune-up fight in his next assignment.

“When I came up to 126, I didn’t have a tune-up. When I came up to 122, I didn’t have a tune-up. When I went up in weight to 118, I didn’t have a tune-up. If there’s a challenge there, I’ll go for it. I’m always willing to fight anybody,” Donaire previously told Luis Sandoval of boxingscene.com.

“We want to get another title match. Either defend the title or fight another champion. I’m always the type of fighter that will challenge other champions out there. If I’m in that division, I will challenge you,” he said.

Donaire will get his wish against Walters in a fight that’s expected to be a barnburner. – Dino Maragay/Contributor