by Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBC Diamond Belt and WBO super bantamweight/junior featherweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire said today that if Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is able to arrange a title defense against Mexican warrior Jorge Arce in December, he’ll be ready to go to Mexico for the fight.

Donaire told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard he believes he can fight in December, stating “if they make it happen, I will.”

However, it would depend on how his left hand, which required eight stitches after the rousing 9th round TKO victory over Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka, responds.

Donaire will have his hand checked by a doctor before flying to Manila on Saturday from San Francisco to join the ABS-CBN television panel for the battle between AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu for the vacant WBO title at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City .

The title was vacated by Arce who is ranked as the No. 1 super bantamweight in the latest ratings released by the World Boxing Organization.

Asked whether he would be prepared to fight Arce in his hometown in Mexico, Donaire answered, “why not?”

Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who watched the Donaire-Nishioka fight on television said “I thought he (Donaire) was good. I don’t know what everybody is complaining about.”

Ariza said Donaire could only fight if Nishioka was ready to engage but stressed “he fought a very sound tactical fight. He can punch like a (expletive). His hand-speed is also impressive.”

He said Donaire’s “boxing is looking better and better and obviously that’s a tribute to Robert Garcia (trainer). He stole the show in a chess match.”