Oubaali vs Donaire, TGB Promotions Secures WBC Purse Bid

By Anil Kumar Alagu

WBC World Bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KO’s) of France will attempt his third title defense against mandatory Filipino former multi-division world champion Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KO’s).  

With over a month time in lieu (7 weeks to be precise) given to the handlers of Oubaali and Donaire to reach an agreement plus twice delayed.

Both parties never came close to concluding their respective eagerness to face it off till Tuesday this week.

The aforesaid purse bid hearing ordered by the World Boxing Council (WBC) – For a Bantamweight world title, has beenfinally secured by TGB Promotions with a winning bid of $401,000.

A 60/40 split is foreseen in favor of France’s Oubaali – With the reigning champion guaranteed a sum of $216,540 while the remainder of $144,360 from the pot will go to Donaire. Another feature of this purse bid is also the enforcement of the WBC’s Escrow policy.

A distinctive feature introduced by the WBC back in 2016 for succeeding negotiations as Champion Deontay Wilder prepared to face mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. 

The policy requires 10% of the bidding amount to be paid to the winner. This dictates that a sum of $40,100 will be held by the WBC in issuance to the winner of this upcoming bout.

Oubaali claimed his WBC Bantamweight title when he faced his long time amateur foe Rau’shee Warren of the U.S.A to a 12 round unanimous decision victory on January 2019 in Las Vegas followed by a 6^th round stoppage victory against Arthur Villanueva of the Philippines, and recently a unanimous win over the brother of Naoya Inoue – Takuma Inoue.

Upon defeating Takuma Inoue, Oubaali anticipated to be next in line to face elder brother Naoya Inoue who defeated Donaire at Saitama Arena, Japan for the World Boxing Super Series Bantamweight final. 

Oubaali’s aspirations to face the Japanese monster to unify the Bantamweight division hit a stumblingblock Instead, When the WBC decided to name Donaire as the mandatory challenger for the French-Moroccan world champion.

Nonito Donaire’s situation on the other hand was timely and opportune. A globetrotting boxer who has never shied away nor ducked an opponent especially when it meant to fight at his opponent’s home ground. A trait we rarely see in world champions of late.

The ‘Filipino Flash’ as he’s fondly known to his fans; The former 4 division world champion isn’t only fast;He hits with bad intentions too and one must look out for his fearsome left hook.

Thy shall not go further than November of 2019 to cite his assault on Naoya Inoue, When the Japanese monster suffered a broken nose and cracked orbital bone. 

On paper, this will be a very interesting matchup especially when Donaire showed off his ascertainment to Inoue’s skill, speed and youth. Oubaali isn’t a big puncher; Hence it will be interesting to catch this bout up close.

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Anil Kumar is a boxing Journalist for Fight News Asia and a boxing ring announcer/commentator/analyst. 

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