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'Full' title or not? What’s at stake in Donaire’s next fight

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OX6h2eZvmVM?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>When Nonito Donaire Jr. faces Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico on December 19 it will be for a full WBC bantamweight title.This should be the case, even though the World Boxing Council declared reigning champion Nordine Oubaali of France &quot;champion in recess&quot; after he begged off from the Donaire bout due to COVID-19.Fight analyst Nissi Icasiano said this meant there would be 2 WBC world champions in the bantamweight division on December 19.&quot;The WBC will crown 2 champions in 1 division. But the other one is just inactive or &#x27;in recess,&#x27; because he has a valid reason to be sidelined,&quot; Icasiano said.He explained that the WBC crown being dangled for the Donaire-Rodriguez match is different from the interim titles being offered by other sanctioning bodies.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/03/20/why-donaire-opponent-believes-he-has-edge-over-filipino-flash-in-connecticut-bout">READ: Why Donaire opponent believes he has edge over ‘Filipino Flash’ in Connecticut bout</a></li></ul>&quot;It&#x27;s a concept introduced when Oleksandr Usyk (in 2019) had to be sidelined because of an injury. They coined the term &#x27;champion in recess,&#x27;&quot; Icasiano said.&quot;In the interim, the champion is not &#x27;official&#x27; because it&#x27;s just part of a contingency. In case a full champion gets stripped of his title, that&#x27;s the time an interim champion gets fully promoted as a full champion.&quot;Icasiano said a champion in recess enjoys certain privileges.&quot;[For one] in interim titles, there is a preset deadline for official champions to return. But for champions in recess, there&#x27;s no preset deadline,&quot; he pointed out.Icasiano said that when Oubaali returns, he will have to fight Donaire in a mandatory fight.

When Nonito Donaire Jr. faces Emmanuel Rodriguez on December 19 it will be for a full WBC bantamweight title. This even as the WBC declared reigning champion Nordine Oubaali as the "champion in recess" after he begged off from the Donaire bout due to COVID-19.

When Nonito Donaire Jr. faces Emmanuel Rodriguez on December 19 it will be for a full WBC bantamweight title. This even as the WBC declared reigning champion Nordine Oubaali as the "champion in recess" after he begged off from the Donaire bout due to COVID-19.

'Full' title or not? What’s at stake in Donaire’s next fight

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'Full' title or not? What’s at stake in Donaire’s next fight

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 04, 2020 08:09 AM PHT

|

Updated Dec 04, 2020 11:06 PM PHT

Read More:

Nonito Donaire

Nissi Icasiano

Emmanuel Rodriguez

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