Sports » Boxing Newly crowned 122-lb champ Donaire ponders his next foe

five division champion Jorge Arce, Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux are just some of the lucrative fights awaiting Nonito Donaire Jr., the newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight champion.

Despite settling for a split decision over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. of Puerto Rico, Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Alamodome in Texas, the “Filipino Flash” may be lining himself up as a marquee player in the division where compatriot and global boxing icon Manny Pacquiao once reigned.

           

Already, Donaire has been challenged by the camp of Rigondeaux, the current World Boxing Association (WBA) super-bantamweight title holder, and an Olympic bantamweight gold medalist in the 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens Games).



From the looks of things though, Arce seems to be the logical choice as the Filipino’s next opponent.

           

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Promotions holds the rights on Donaire, admitted looking at a possible May or June date with Arce, depending on how fast Nonito’s injured left hand heals.

           

“Let’s see what happens with his hand first,” said Arum. “That will determine everything, but depending on the timing, we want him to face Arce next.”

           

Arce actually dethroned Vazquez Jr.a year ago, winning the WBO super-bantamweight title on a 12th round technical knockout.



After successfully defending that title against South African Simphiwe Nongqayi in a fourth round TKO, Arce went down to bantamweight, winning the WBO 118-lbs. title with a unanimous decision over Angky Angkota.

           

Nishioka, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) super-bantamweight champion, had once been on the radar of Donaire, and was supposed to be challenged by the Filipino until the fight with Vazquez Jr. came through.

           

But the two nonetheless are expected to cross paths as Donaire himself admitted he is comfortable fighting at the 122 lbs. limit.



“I’m definitely staying at 122 for a while,” said Donaire, who improved to 28-1, with 18 KOs following the win over Vazquez.

           

“There are things (trainer) Robert (Garcia) asked me to do that I couldn’t do so well, so we will go back to the drawing board.”

           

Vazquez believes Donaire will make his mark in the division.

           

“He's real quick,” said the son and namesake of former three-division champion Wilfredo Vazquez. “He caught me with some good punches. He surprised me by hitting me when I was off balance. I thought I did pretty well. I was patient, but he is a great fighter.” — AD/RSJ, GMA News source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/247065/sports/boxing/newly-crowned-122-lb-champ-donaire-ponders-his-next-foe?ref=subsection_banner

Pacquiao vs mayweather

With all the hoopla over getting Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in the ring for a proposed May date, there's no doubt that pushing the fight back to November is a win-win overall for all involved.

Getting a May date set up now will mean it will be slightly rushed, and the promotion—all though the fight doesn't need too much hype, as it is a bout three years on the making—will benefit the bout the most.

Even when Mayweather is serving his up to 90-day jail sentence starting on June 1, the megafight can be hyped keeping the momentum building leading up to the November date.

The added time before the fight will allow the proposed 45,000 seat, temporary stadium to be built on the Las Vegas strip to be built well in time for the fight.

The fighters will benefit from the extra time as well, as they won't have to go right into a training camp as they would if the May date was to be signed.

This will give Pacquiao time to rest after his proposed June fight and get his head right heading into training camp for the biggest fight of his lengthy career.

While a November date will allow Mayweather to focus his mind on Pacquiao while he serves his jail sentence and then put his all into his training camp after sitting in a jail cell thinking about ways to go about the fight—instead of worrying about his lingering jail sentence leading up to a May fight date.

Top Rank president Bob Arum, had this to say to the Manilla Standard about a November date:

“What we are trying to accomplish assuming he [Mayweather] is going to fight in May and Manny is going to fight in June, is that we are pressing to see if we can get a contract signed between the two fighters for November.”

In all, getting a November date set up before the two welterweight greats have their separate fights in May and June will allow both Mayweather and Pacquiao to be fully prepared to give the boxing world the best show they possibly can after over three years of hype for the bout.