Jamie McDonnell will defend his WBA world bantamweight title before a summer unification fight
Thursday 28 January 2016 16:06, UK
Jamie McDonnell will defend his world title in April before a possible summer unification fight with fellow WBA champion Juan Carlos Payano.
The Doncaster bantamweight holds the WBA belt while Payano, the unbeaten southpaw from the Dominican Republic, is the governing body's Super champion.
The WBA's championships committee are trying to reduce their number of title holders and have ordered that a deal be struck within 30 days.
But promoter Eddie Hearn says McDonnell will defend his title before tackling Payano later in the year.
We are planning a defence for Jamie on April 9 at the O2 with a view to face Payano in the summer.
"We are planning a defence for Jamie on April 9 at the O2 with a view to face Payano in the summer," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"We also love the Lee Haskins fight and have various offers from the States."
Haskins, who beat McDonnell on points over eight rounds in 2008, took possession of the full IBF title in November after former holder Randy Caballero failed to make weight for their proposed fight in Las Vegas.
McDonnell against Haskins would be the latest all-British world title unification fight, following the Sky Sports Box Office clash between super-bantamweights Carl Frampton (IBF) and Scott Quigg (WBA) on February 27.
McDonnell has already said he would consider moving up in weight to take on the winner, having proved the best 118lb fighter in the world.
He has successfully defended his crown three times since defeating Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat for the vacant title in 2014, while Payano won 'Super' status on a sixth-round technical decision over Anselmo Moreno in the same year.
