WBC Bantamweight World Champion Nordine Oubaali and future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire will meet in a long-awaited championship showdown on Saturday, May 29, headlining action live on SHOWTIME® in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Oubaali vs. Donarie fight begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT live broadcast on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and will see hard-hitting contender Subriel Matias taking on undefeated Batyr Jukembayev in an IBF Junior Welterweight Title Eliminator in the co-main event.
In the telecast opener, unbeaten 2016 U.S. Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell will face Jovanie Santiago in a 10-round super lightweight clash.
“Oubaali and Donaire have been preparing to face each other for at least a year now, so you know these two warriors will be ready to let their fists fly once the bell finally rings on May 29,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions.
“Oubaali has proven himself a force at bantamweight and will have a chance to reach a new level with a victory against Nonito Donaire, who has solidified his Hall of Fame credentials by adding to his resume in recent years.
With two exciting undercard fights leading up to our main event, this should be a high-stakes night from start to finish.”
TGB Promotions promote the event. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com. Dignity Health Sports Park will be open to fans in a limited capacity, with all guests remaining socially distanced and subject to local and state health guidelines throughout the event.
Oubaali and Donaire will finally meet in the ring after they were originally scheduled to square off last year in a SHOWTIME main event.
Oubaali will seek a career-best victory over a future Hall of Famer, while Donaire looks to add another triumph to his sterling career resume.
The winner of this fight will have their eye on the winner of the upcoming showdown between former unified champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and WBO Bantamweight Champion John Riel Casimero, who are set to meet on SHOWTIME on August 14 in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
A two-time Olympian for France, the Pas-de-Calais native Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) will make his third title defense when he enters the ring to face Donaire.
The 34-year-old southpaw won his title in his U.S. debut, beating former champion Rau’shee Warren in January 2019 on his way to a decision victory.
Oubaali followed that up with successful defenses against Arthur Villanueva and Takuma Inoue. A pro since 2014, Oubaali’s rise up the rankings was buoyed by a stoppage victory over former world champion Julio Cesar Miranda in 2016.
“I’m very excited that this fight is finally here,” said Oubaali. “I know that fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see the two best bantamweights on the planet battle it out.
Donaire is a legend in the sport, and I respect him a lot, but I am the champion of the world, and there is no doubt in my mind that my hand will be raised when we finally meet.
I am fighting for my family and my country, and by beating Donaire, I will put my name in the history books of boxing. I am extremely motivated, and I guarantee fireworks on fight night.”
One of the sport’s most accomplished active fighters, Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs), has captured titles at flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight. Representing his native Talibon, Bohol, Philippines, Donaire moved back down to bantamweight in 2018 and upset then-unbeaten champion Ryan Burnett in his hometown to capture a title once again.
Donaire would add a knockout over Stephon Young before dropping his last outing, the 2019 Fight of the Year against unbeaten unified champion Naoya Inoue.
"I always come to bring a fight and entertain, and I can’t wait to perform in front of the fans again on May 29,” said Donaire. “I showed in my last fight that I still have the skill, heart, and determination to stand up against the best in this sport. I’m always working on keeping my body in shape and my reflexes on point while retaining my power. I can’t wait to show everything I can do in the ring against Oubaali.”
Fighting out of his native Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Matias (16-1, 16 KOs) most recently scored an impressive stoppage of previously unbeaten Malik Hawkins via a sixth-round TKO their October 2020 clash on SHOWTIME.
The 29-year-old bounced back from his previous outing, which saw him lose a narrow decision to Petros Ananyan. Before his lone loss, Matias stopped his first 15 opponents inside the distance and has yet to decide on a victory.