FIVE-division world champion and former World Boxing Organization (WBO) world super bantamweight king Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will fight Irish former world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton on April 7, 2018 in the latter’s hometown in Belfast, Ireland.
Donaire Jr. (38-4-0, 24KOs), who is now fighting under new promoter, Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports, is gunning for a win to improve his ranking in the featherweight division and earn another world title shot after losing his WBO world super bantamweight crown to American Jessie Magdaleno via unanimous decision last year.
After his loss to Magdaleno, Donaire parted ways with Top Rank Promotions of Bob Arum and signed up with Schaefer.
Donaire Jr. only had one fight this year. It was against Mexican Ruben Garcia Hernandez for the vacant WBC silver featherweight title where he walked away with a unanimous decision victory last September.
The 30-year-old Frampton (24-1-0,14KOs) meanwhile, also lost his World Boxing Association (WBA) super world featherweight title last year against Leo Santa Cruz by majority decision in a fight held in the United States.
Just like Donaire Jr., Frampton only had one bout this year against Horacio Garcia where he won by unanimous decision in Belfast, Ireland.