HE may be on his last legs, but Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. believes he still has what it takes to make one last dash at ring glory.

The last time Donaire was in the ring, June 7, he absorbed the worst beating in his career. Japanese superstar Naoya “The Monster” Inoue hammered Donaire into submission in just two rounds to unify the WBA, IBF and WBC bantamweight (118 lbs) titles. Inoue floored Donaire in the first round and finished him for good in the second stanza with a frightening barrage of punches.

Just about everybody was convinced after the fight that Donaire should call it day. At age 39, the mileage was evident in the Inoue fight and Donaire really has nothing more to prove.

Donaire, however, is not ready to count himself out of the sport. He recently announced that he will lace on the gloves again for a whole new mission.

Donaire’s new target is the junior bantamweight or super flyweight division which has a weight limit of 115 pounds, three pounds lower than the bantamweight class.

With Inoue lording it over the bantamweight division, Donaire definitely has no plans to linger in the weight class. Going down to junior bantamweight, however, gives Donaire a chance to add another feather on his cap.

Officially, Donaire is listed as a fourdivision world champion, having held legitimate titles in the flyweight (112 lbs, IBF), bantamweight (118 lbs, WBC, WBO, WBA), junior featherweight (122 lbs, WBO, IBF) and featherweight (126 lbs, WBA ‘super’) divisions.

Donaire is one of only three Filipino boxers to win four division crowns, the other two being Manny Pacquiao (a total of 8 division crowns) and Donnie Nietes.

Donaire is looking to add one more division title, the junior bantamweight plum, to make himself a five-division world champion.

Donaire actually fought in the junior bantamweight division in 2009 and 2010. In August 2009, he defeated Raul Concepcion of Panama by decision to win the WBA “interim” junior bantamweight crown. Note that Donaire only won an interim version of the crown. The recognized legitimate WBA junior bantamweight champ around that time was Vic Darchinyan, the same guy Donaire knocked out in July 2007 for the IBF flyweight title. Unfortunately, Donaire and Darchinyan did not cross paths in the junior bantamweight class and the Filipino was denied the chance to legitimize his “interim” belt.

Donaire made one successful defense of the WBA “interim” junior bantamweight diadem, stopping Mexican slugger Hernan “Tyson” Marquez in eight rounds in July 2010. After the fight, Donaire moved up to the bantamweight class. He met Darchinyan again in November 2013 but it was for a non-title fight at featherweight.

Donaire is thus returning to the junior bantamweight division for some unfinished business.

The 115-pound division is currently one of the hottest divisions in boxing, with formidable champions in Juan Francisco Estrada (WBA), Jesse Rodriguez (WBC), Fernando Martinez (IBF) and Kazuto Ioka (WBO).

Donaire is eyeing two names: WBO titlist Ioka of Japan and former world champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez of Nicaragua, both of whom are in their 30s. Donaire disclosed that his handlers are already talking to the two fighters.

Ioka (29-2, 15 knockouts) is coming off a one-sided decision win over Nietes. Like Donaire, Ioka also held world titles in four weight classifications.

Gonzalez (51-3, 41 knockouts) was once considered the best pound-forpound champ in the sport. Gonzalez’s stock took a hit when he absorbed back-to-back losses to Thai Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017, but the Nicaraguan regrouped and became a champ again by stopping Khalid Yafai in February 2020 for the WBA junior bantamweight title. Gonzalez lost the belt last year to Juan Francisco Estrada on a disputed decision.

Donaire (42-7, 28 knockouts) is turning 40 in November and has been in the fight business for 21 years. Not a few thought Donaire was finished when he lost to Carl Frampton in April 2018, but he became a champ again by winning the WBA bantamweight crown from Ryan Burnett seven months later.

Donaire gave Inoue his toughest fight before losing on points in their first meeting in November 2019. Donaire sustained his momentum by winning the WBC bantamweight title with a devastating knockout of Nordine Oubaali in May 2021.

The numbing knockout loss to Inoue in their rematch, however, has left Donaire’s confidence in tatters.

It remains to be seen just how much is left in Donaire’s fuel tank. Given his age, it may not even be a good move to shed weight. Donaire will be the underdog against all of the incumbent champs at junior bantamweight, but the “Filipino Flash” is undaunted and plans to roll the dice one more time before finally archiving the gloves.