WBC to award Diamond belt to Donaire-Nishioka winner

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has sanctioned the Oct. 12 fight between WBO/IBF superbantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (29W-1L, 18 KOs) and challenger Toshiaki Nishioka (39W-4L-3D, 24 KOs) of Japan as a battle for the vacant WBC superbantamweight Diamond title, the WBC recently announced through its website wbcboxing.com.

The WBC Diamond title was created in 2009 as an honorary title exclusively awarded to the winner of a fight between two high profile boxers. The very first WBC Diamond belt was awarded to Manny Pacquiao last December 2009 when he beat Miguel Cotto for the seventh of his eight world titles.

Pacquiao’s diamond belt was made of 18 carat gold fused with 861 diamonds, six rubies, 221 emeralds and 180 Swarovzky glass stones. Donaire’s WBO and IBF titles will also be at stake in this fight.

Nishioka is a former WBC bantamweight and superbantamweight champion. He did not lose his superbantamweight belt inside the ring but gave it up when he was searching for bigger fights. His biggest career win was a twelve round unanimous decision victory over Mexico’s Rafael Marquez.

The WBC has also given Nishioka the title of Emeritus Champion last March.

The Donaire vs. Nishioka fight will be held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.