The main event remains intact for Saturday night's card at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Nonito Donaire defends his World 122 lb. championship against Jorge Arce in what now serves as the lone live bout on HBO's World Championship Boxing telecast.
Donaire came in below the divisional limit at a trim and ready 121.5 lb. Arce was right at 122 lb, a result that required the former for division titlist to strip down to his birthday suit in order to make weight.
The night marks the fourth fight of 2012 for each combatant, though Donaire (30-1, 19KO) has spent the year at a much higher skill and relevance level. All four ring appearances (including Saturday night) have aired on HBO. The reigning 122 lb. king is believed by many to be a leading candidate for Fighter of the Year.
Arce (61-6-2, 46KO) is a considerable underdog, but has always found ways to thrive whenever he is written off. The most recent example came in last year's upset 12th round stoppage win over previously unbeaten Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (who also lost a decision to Donaire earlier this year). The former four-division champ is a potential future Hall of Fame entrant, regardless of Saturday's outcome.
The night was to include a strong co-feature, also in the 122 lb. division. However, Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8KO) was left without a dance partner when the state commission in Texas refused to grant a boxing license to former two-division titlist Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (48-2, 30KO) after failing his medical exams.
Donaire's title defense against Arce serves as the evening's standalone live bout to air. The telecast will open (9:30PM ET) with an exclusive replay of last weekend's major pay-per-view event, Juan Manuel Marquez' long-sought revenge over Manny Pacquiao in their fourth fight last Saturday in Las Vegas.
Full Weigh-In Results:
Nonito Donaire, 121.5 lb vs. Jorge Arce, 122 lb - 12 rounds, World super bantamweight championship (HBO Main Event)
Juan Ruiz, 123.5 lb vs. Victor Terrazas, 126.25 lb - eight rounds, featherweight
Larry Smith, 149.5 lb vs. Daniel Sandoval, 150.25 lb - six rounds, welterweight
Meachem Major, 132.75 lb vs. Jose Felix Jr, 133 lb - 10 rounds, lightweight
Jose Trevino, 151 lb vs. Sukhrab Shidaev, 150.5 lb - four rounds, welterweight
Tremaine Williams, 123.5 lb vs. Rafael Casias, 122.25 lb - four rounds, super bantamweight
Alfredo Contreras, 175 lb vs. Cedric Agnew, 175.75 lb - six rounds, light heavyweight
Eddie Cordova, 147.5 lb vs. Alex Saucedo, 146.5 lb - four rounds, welterweight
Saul Rodriguez, 128.5 lb vs. Pablo Brates, 128.5 lb - six rounds, featherweight
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Tags: Nonito Donaire 
, HBO , Top Rank , Jorge Arce 
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