Former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. was hoping to issue a personal challenge inside the ring to Juan Francisco Estrada, moments after he captured the vacant WBC super flyweight title in Arizona, USA recently.
But an overeager security staff asked him to get out of the ring.
Unable to personally talk with Estrada, the “Filipino Flash” turned to social media to congratulate the newly minted champ.
“First off Congratulations to @galloestradaoficial for his win on Saturday night. @chocolatito87 had an amazing fight and showed great heart. This trilogy is the heart of boxing fans worldwide and is historic!,” Donaire said.
Then, he proceeded to give his thoughts on what transpired when he climbed the ring.
“I was at the fight, we had talks in Hermosillo, Japan, and the WBC convention. @fernandobeltranrendon @zanferboxing invited me into the ring and even tried to get Matchroom security to back off, but they took me out.”
Donaire said he prefers to challenge opponents personally.
“I like challenging fighters face to face, not on Twitter, but apparently yall (you all) want me to do it this way. So, if Estrada wants to fight me, I’m right here. No shade thrown just always going for the best in the division. It’d be epic.”
In his post on Instagram and Twitter, he could not hide his disappointment with the overzealous security at the arena.
“Lastly, if yall Matchroom security guys ever want to put hands on someone, put hands on ME. Yall had every opportunity to escort me out if you wanted to push the crowd of fans, I was taking pics with, but instead, you knee-check my wife on the stairs when she clearly had nowhere to go.”
“Y’all could have easily HELPED me move the crowd instead of causing more disruption and chaos. Sometimes using your brain is better than using brute.”
In big-ticket fights, it is normal for boxing figures, especially a former four-world division champion like Donaire, who could be the champ’s future challenger, to personally challenge the winner.
Donaire was coming off a second-round knockout loss to Japanese Naoya Inoue for the unified world title belts in the bantamweight division last June in Saitama, Japan. And it looks like, he’s ready to go down in weight to challenge Estrada.