Nonito Donaire and Alexandro Santiago contest vacant WBC bantamweight title on July 15

“Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire’s return to the ring is finally scheduled for July 15, when he takes on Mexican Alexandro Santiago for the vacant WBC bantamweight title at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This fight will be part of the Frank Martin and Artem Harutyunyan bill. The WBC first ordered the fight in February as part of the division’s rebuilding efforts following the departure of Naoya Inoue. Donaire (42-7, 28) first got the call to fight Jason Moloney, who decided to fight for another organization. This opened the door for the no. 6 Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KOs), last seen defeating Antonio Nieves via technical knockout.
Donaire turns 41 in November and is fuelled plus inspired by the prospect of again contesting a WBC Green and Gold Belt.
Santiago is a solid fighter whose only loss since 2014 came by close decision against Gary Antonio Russell.