WBC sets purse bid for Nordine Oubaali vs Nonito Donaire, Jan. 21

According to more sources of Mike Coppinger, who has been pretty hot with the news of late, the WBC has scheduled a purse bid on January 21 for an 118lb title fight between Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) and Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs). A previosuly ordered fight between Javier Fortuna and Luke Campell has also been scheduled for purse bid on the date.

Donaire, 37, is coming off a disappointing loss in the WBSS final last November, dropping a unanimous decision to Naoya Inoue. Donaire did, however, have a pretty resurgent performance in that fight against a true pound-for-pound talent and proved he still can still be a handful for anybody in the division.

Meanwhile Oubaali, the reigning WBC champion, remains unbeaten in his professional career, most recently winning a decision over Takuma Inoue last November on that same card. Most people would probably rate Donaire as the best opponent Oubaali has seen — particularly after Donaire’s last outing — but Donaire just might not have the same level of motivation for Oubaali as he did for Inoue.

Donaire himself has admitted that he raises his game when the stakes are highest, and at his age, with all the wars he’s been through, he really can’t afford to dial it back now. But with another crack a world title on the line, you’d have to think that’s something Donaire would be up for. Stay tuned...