NOT OUT – Nonito Donaire on course to face Ryan Burnett

Nonito Donaire [38(24)-5(1)] is not out of the running yet.

The Filipino four-weight world champion is down to face Ireland’s WBA bantamweight champ Ryan Burnett [19(9)-0] in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series next weekend in Glasgow but there have been heavy rumours that he is set to pull out from the big-money knockout competition.

First reserve Paul Butler [26(14)-2(1)] has been publicised in recent days but, despite doubts, Donaire is still very much in the fight at the SSE Hydro.

Moving down two weight divisions and fighting at 118lbs for the first time in seven years, questions had been raised about Donaire’s ability to make the weight and this formed the crux of the persistent rumours over the past week regarding a potential pull-out of the Pinoy.

However, Donaire has flown from Los Angeles to Glasgow for the final week of his camp and, at present, remains in the main event.

Now in Scotland, the 35-year-old trained last night at Renfrewshire Boxing Club (pictured).

Spoke with Nonito Donaire earlier, he’s now in Glasgow, Scotland. He faces Ryan Burnett next Sat night in the WBSS 118-pd tourney #boxing

— Steve AmeriKim (@steveucnlive) October 26, 2018

‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire still does have to make weight on Friday and Butler, who is down to box Frenchman Yoan Boyeaux on the undercard, is on standby ready to jump in.

Talk from some suggest that the veteran is indeed tight at the weight, while others suggest the rumours perhaps stem from Donaire’s own team as an attempt to unsettle Burnett.

The Belfast 26-year-old is finishing off his camp in London with coach Adam Booth ahead of his second WBA title defence and fourth world title fight.

The winner of next week’s bout – which is a co-headliner with Josh Taylor’s WBSS light welter quarter-final versus Ryan Martin – will progress to the semi-finals and a unification with WBO champion Zolani Tete.