By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBO, Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will face former three-division world champion Vic Darchinyan in a rematch. Darchinyan has longed for a shot at revenge ever since he was knocked out in the 5th round by Donaire who grabbed his IBO/IBF flyweight belts on July 7, 2007.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum informed BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard about the Darchinyan rematch and said “its likely to happen sometime in November.”
Donaire himself told us very early Tuesday morning Manila Time that he was not certain who his opponent would be but that he had been asked to stay at 122 pounds for his next fight.
The four division world champion told us he has been doing some light training to stay in shape but would have to work on bringing his weight down since he is now around 140 pounds.
Donaire earlier expressed his desire for a chance to avenge his surprising loss to former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York last April 13 telling us he wanted that rematch more than ever but indications it will have to wait.
Darchinyan told BoxingScene/Manila Standard that he wanted to face Donaire in September and said “I don’t want to sit and wait for him (Donaire) until November. I will have one more tune-up fight sometime at the end of August and will fight Donaire in November. It’s a good time for me. I’m okay with it.”
Darchinyan said he’s been doing some light training and after a tune-up fight he’d take off for a couple of weeks before he resumes training for the Donaire fight.
