Jamie McDonnell wants to be bona fide WBA champion or win IBF belt as well, says trainer Dave Coldwell
Saturday 30 January 2016 13:24, UK
Jamie McDonnell wants at least one bantamweight unification fight before moving up and hopefully fighting Scott Quigg or Carl Frampton.
His manager and trainer Dave Coldwell has revealed they are happy to take on fellow WBA champion Juan Carlos Payano or even IBF bantamweight world champion Lee Haskins this summer.
McDonnell will first defend his WBA World strap in London in April, but following the governing body's decsion to mandate a unification between their two title holders - Payano is their Super champion - the Doncaster twin is set for a huge showdown this summer.
It's only a matter of time before he moves up to super-bantamweight, but if it's worth Jamie sticking around at bantamweight for big fights, then we are 100 per cent up for it.
"At least now they are trying to rectify that," Coldwell told Sky Sports.
"As for Payano, I've seen him fight a few times and he is the WBA Super champion - or call it what you will - and a good fighter.
"He's a southpaw so straight away he is a little more tricky and he is a good fighter. But he is someone Jamie has wanted to fight for a while and we said to Al Hayman recently, that we would be happy to go over and fight him.
"Payano is the Super champion so if Jamie beats him, nobody can say anything else about him with regards to titles. He will be the bona fide WBA world champion."
On January 28, the WBA ordered 30 days for a deal to be done but promoter Eddie Hearn is also looking at another unification that follows in the Frampton v Quigg footsteps.
Bristol's Haskins was elevated to IBF world champion when former holder Randy Caballero failed to make weight for his October defence, giving Britain two super-bantamweight belt holders.
And a domestic fight with two titles on the line would not only be the last time McDonnell boxes at 118lbs, but will match the Frampton (IBF) and Quigg (WBA) fight on February 27, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"We've talked about that quite a lot recently," Coldwell said about Haskins.
"It's a fight we'd welcome but obviously it's got to have the right money attached to it.
"Jamie's used to getting good money now - he's not in one of the smaller divisions where he'd get peanuts - and hopefully that's something we can look at.
"Let's get this April one, then Payano, out of the way - then we will look at two things; if Jamie's still alright at the weight, then if the money's there.
"It's only a matter of time before he moves up to super-bantamweight, but if it's worth Jamie sticking around at bantamweight for big fights, then we are 100 per cent up for it.
"If there's not, he wants to jump up to super-bantam. He wants to get in that mix with the likes of Quigg and Frampton. He wants to fight the winner of those two."
