Manny Pacquiao isn’t the only quadragenarian getting a title shot in the near future. That’s because compatriot Nonito Donaire is getting one as well.
Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs), will return to the ring at age 42 to take on Chile’s Andres Campos (17-2-1, 6 KOs) for the vacant interim WBA bantamweight title. The title fight is scheduled on June 14 (June 15 in the Philippines) as part of the annual WBA KO to Drugs Festival at Casino Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The said belt will be disputed after the WBA downgraded Seiya Tsutsumi from WBA bantamweight titlist to champion in recess and elevated Antonio Vargas to full WBA titleholder. Vargas had previously won the interim version in December of last year. This means the winner will be in line to face Vargas to consolidate the WBA bantamweight title.
Donaire Gunning for History—Again
The fight with Campos would essentially be the first step for Donaire possibly resetting the record as the oldest fighter to win a title at 118 pounds—a distinction he himself holds. He first accomplished the feat in November 2018 when he won the WBA bantamweight belt at 35 years, 11 months after stopping Ryan Burnett.
Donaire, known as “The Filipino Flash,” then reset the record in 2021 when he knocked out Nordine Oubali to win the WBC bantamweight crown at the age of 38. Should he beat Campos come June, Donaire would likely get a chance to make history for a third time at bantamweight with a possible title shot versus Vargas.
Both Are Coming Off Adversity
The 42-year-old Donaire has not fought after losing in July 2023 to Alexandro Santiago in their bout for the vacant WBC bantamweight title—the same one he won from Oubali two years earlier. Donaire lost it in 2022 to Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, who later on vacated three bantamweight titles—including the WBC—to move up in weight.
Campos, 28, is much younger than Donaire, but he has struggled of late, going 3-2 in his last five fights. His most recent loss was in October 2024—a TKO defeat to Joselito Velasquez. The other was a 12-round unanimous decision loss to the erstwhile unbeaten IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards in June 2023. He bounced back nicely in his last fight, though, stopping Jimson Garcia via TKO in April in Chile.
While Campos is 14 years younger, Donaire will have the overwhelming advantage in experience. Perhaps just as crucial, me may have the size advantage over the Chilean, who has fought most of his fights at flyweight and will be moving up for this interim title fight.
Donaire’s return comes on the heels of Pacquiao’s own comeback, which was announced a couple of weeks ago. The Pacman will be going for another title come July against Mario Barrios for the latter’s WBC welterweight belt.
