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Donaire vs Vetyeka: Fight is done for May 31 in Macao

Nonito Donaire will get a title shot on May 31 against Simpiwe Vetyeka, with the discussed fight a done deal and headed to Macao.

Scott Halleran
Scott Christ is the managing editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2006.

Bob Arum says all terms are agreed to and just the paperwork needs to be signed for a May 31 world title fight in Macao between WBA featherweight titleholder Simpiwe Vetyeka and Nonito Donaire, who seeks to win a world title in yet another weight class after dropping his 122-pound belt last year to Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Vetyeka (26-2, 16 KO) knocked off long-reigning featherweight titlist Chris John in Australia on December 6 of last year, and the 33-year-old South African has sort of come into his own of late, beating both John and Daud Yordan in his last two fights.

Donaire (32-2, 21 KO) won his last fight in his featherweight debut against old flyweight rival Vic Darchinyan, but Nonito had to rally in that fight and it was another lackluster performance following the loss to Rigondeaux. The good news for Nonito is that Vetyeka isn't another awkward southpaw, and that he should oblige Donaire the type of fight where Nonito shines. But he just well might not be a featherweight, either, at least not at the level we've seen of him at his best. And at 31, he's a hair older than I think most people realize, too.

What do you expect of this fight?

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