Donaire to challenge Vetyeka for WBA title in Macau
Nonito Donaire (32-2, 21 KO's) will challenge South Africa's WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka (26-2, 16 KO's) in Macau in either late April or early May.
Donaire attempts to capture a 4th division World title, having already won World titles at flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight.
He finally met his match in getting beaten by WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux last year in April. Donaire, then made the move up to the featherweight division, and in his first fight at that weight, Donaire fought Vic Darchinyan.
Donaire stopped Darchinyan, who was leading on the judges scorecards before Donaire rallied in the 9th round and halted the 38-year-old Darchinyan.
Before Donaire's fight against Darchinyan, the plan for Donaire was to fight Nicholas Walters for his WBA 'regular' featherweight title. However, with Vetyeka beating a past his prme Chris John in the 6th round to claim the more prestigous WBA 'Super' World featherweight title in December, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is now matching Donaire with Vetyeka. Arum is being smart pitting Donaire with Vetyeka rather than the other three featherweight champions Evgeny Gradovich, Orlando Salido and Jhonny Gonzalez as he is perceived the weak-link among the four featherweight champions.
Former WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria and Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming are also set to feature on the Macau card.