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Boxing

Nonito Donaire joins Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in unique class of three decade title winners

Chris Walker
Nonito Donaire joins Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in unique class of three decade title winnersshowtime
Nonito Donaire made history on Saturday night.

Nonito Donaire's fourth-round KO of defending WBC titleholder Nordine Oubaali not only made 'Filipino Flash' the oldest bantamweight champion of all time, but also earned the 38-year-old some other notable achievements.

The Filipino legend now joins esteemed company as a fighter to win a world title in three different decades.

Here, DAZN looks at some other fighters who have accomplished the feat.

Manny Pacquiao 

In a career spanning 26 years, one that is still ongoing, Manny Pacquiao has broken numerous records. Winning his first world title at the backend of 1998 when defeating Chatchai Sasakul for WBC honours at flyweight, Pacquiao began his menacing reign of dominance. 

Three years later and into the noughties, Pacquiao added further titles to his growing profile and he collected the IBF belt at super-bantamweight. It was 2010 that Pacquiao moved into his third decade winning world titles as he outpointed Antonio Margarito all the way up super-welterweight. Can he make it decade number four against Errol Spence in August? 

Floyd Mayweather 

Long before he was the face of boxing, Floyd Mayweather was considered the future of the sport and he solidified those claims when winning his first world title in 1998. After confirming his dominance at super-featherweight, Mayweather moved a division north in 2002 and became world champion at lightweight with a hotly disputed points win over Jose Luis Castillo. 

Five years later, Mayweather would become boxing’s biggest name when defeating Oscar De La Hoya, but his wait to win a world title in three decades would stretch to 2011 when he stopped Victor Ortiz in four rounds to claim the Kansas man’s WBC welterweight crown. 

Evander Holyfield 

After emerging from the 1984 Olympic Games as one of America’s brightest prospects, Evander Holyfield wasted no time pursuing professional titles. In fight number 12, Holyfield captured the WBA cruiserweight belt following a legendary battle with Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1986. 

Four years later, Holyfield was at heavyweight looking to secure a fight with Mike Tyson but he had to settle for Buster Douglas following the Ohio fighter’s legendary win over Tyson in Tokyo. Holyfield splattered Douglas in 1990 to become heavyweight champion, and ten years later, whilst his career was seemingly winding down, Holyfield narrowly defeated John Ruiz to become heavyweight king for a fourth time. 

Bernard Hopkins 

Boxing’s miracle man, Bernard Hopkins, won his first world title in 1995 when defeating Segundo Mercado for the IBF middleweight crown. On his way to dominance at 160lbs, Hopkins won another version of the middleweight title in 2001 when defeating Keith Holmes on points. 

After a move to light-heavyweight, Hopkins enjoyed numerous great victories but his run at 175lbs was controversially halted by Joe Calzaghe in 2008. Three years later, Hopkins travelled to Canada to dethrone Jean Pascal following their draw the previous year. 

Erik Morales 

Erik Morales fought his way into the hearts of boxing fans with his heroic displays but he was also a routine collector of world title belts throughout his career. Starting in 1997, Morales defeated fellow Mexican, Daniel Zaragoza, to become WBC champion at super-bantamweight. 

At the start of the new millennium, Morales defeated great rival, Marco Antonio Barrera, for the WBO title in a legendary battle. Despite a hard career and several painful nights, Morales was capable of acquitting himself well at all times and that was evident in 2011 when he beat Pablo Cesar Cano to win his final world belt at 140lbs.