By Ryan Burton
WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire is less than two weeks ago from his unification bout against IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula.
While Donaire insists that he is 100% focused on Mathebula, he knows that bigger fights lie ahead. On a recent edition of The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com's official audio show, I asked Donaire if he was interested in facing the like of Jorge Arce and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
"I do want to face both guys. Arce and I are overdue. That fight should have happened a couple years ago," stated Donaire.
"If that (fight) doesn't happen the guy I want would be Rigondeaux. He has a belt and I want it. He's proven as an amateur but not as a pro. The same with Mathebula, he has a belt and I want it too," he continued.
A few days before his dominating knockout victory over Teon Kennedy, Rigondeaux told BoxingScene that all of the big names in the division (including Donaire) are afraid to face him. Donaire disagreed with the Cuban's opinion.
"I don't cuss much but I gotta call, 'bullsh*t'. Yes he accomplished a lot in the amateurs but not as a pro. You won that belt but you had problems with that tall guy (Ricardo Cordoba) on HBO. I have no problem fighting him," Donaire revealed.
You can listen to the interview in its entirety here: http://tobtr.com/s/3308401
Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton.
