Nonito Donaire targets 5th boxing crown

Donaire, who turned 40 late last year, already holds titles for flyweight (112 lbs), bantam (118 lbs), super-bantam (122 lbs), and feather (126 lbs). 

Still, he's aiming for the super-fly (115 lbs) belt to become a five-division champion, one more than another skilled Filipino boxer, Donnie Nietes, three less than the eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao, and one less than six-timer Oscar Dela Hoya.

When Donaire served as the World Boxing Association's interim leader from August 2009 until July 2010, he came very close to inheriting the

throne.

Donaire chose to run at bantam before he could establish himself as a regular champion, leaving him disappointed at 115.

Donaire is taking one audacious run at a world title by becoming a legitimate titleholder at 115 as he approaches the end of a Hall of Fame career.

The last time Filipino-American puncher Donaire competed, Naoya Inoue brutally defeated him by knockout in Saitama, Japan, in June.

With a 42-7 record and 28 knockouts, Donaire will face Estrada or Martinez but won't be as feared because of his defeat to Inoue and his questionable weight-cutting decision.

However, Donaire can't be entirely written off because he has a history of pulling off tremendous upsets when everyone else thought he was out of championship gas.

Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard, two fierce rivals, have at least five world titles over as many weight classes.(Romeo Braceros Jr.)