by Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire says he is not certain as to his finalized opponent when he moves up to super bantamweight for his next fight expected to take place in February 2012.

Donaire, currently vacationing with his wife Rachel in Tokyo, spoke to BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard following Top Rank CEO Bob Arum’s statement that Donaire will fight former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the WBO super bantamweight title relinquished by Mexican warrior Jorge “ Travieso” Arce.

Donaire told us “I don’t know who I am going to fight because I haven’t seen any contract from Top Rank with any details. Several names are being mentioned but while I don’t mind facing anybody they put in front of me, there is nothing definite as yet.”

Another report claimed Donaire would fight IBF super bantamweight champion Takalani “Panther” Ndlovu, the 33 year old South African with a record of 33-6 with 18 knockouts.

Ndlovu won the IBF 122 pound title in a rematch with Steve Molitor on March 26th. The South African defended his title on October 29, scoring a twelve round split decision win over Giovanni Caro of Mexico.

Donaire is coming off a lopsided, shutout defense of his WBC/WBO bantamweight title against undefeated two-division champion Omar Narvaez of Argentina at The Theater in Madison Square Garden last October 22.

Donaire, who is having problems making the 118 pound limit, announced that he was moving up to 122 pounds. Arum, who initially planned to match Donaire against Arce and Japanese champion Toshiaki Nishioka, said he had picked Vazquez - since Arce was moving down to fight Indonesia’s Angy Angkota for the WBO bantamweight title vacated by Donaire.

The 27 year old Vazquez Jr won the vacant 122 pound title with a 4th round knockout of former WBO super flyweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona on February 27, 2010 in Puerto Rico but lost the crown to Arce in a sensational 12th round TKO on May 7 in Las Vegas.