By Ronnie Nathanielsz
IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria fight again in San Francisco on August 22.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that his matchmakers are working on Donaire moving up to 115 pounds to fight WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez.
The 37 year old Lopez won the title relinquished by champion Fernando Montiel who moved up to bantamweight, with a twelve round unanimous decision over Thailand ’s Pramuansak Posuwan in Bayamon, Puerto Rico . On March 28, 2009.
Lopez has a record of 39-7-2 with 32 knockouts while Donaire who is coming off a cracking fourth round TKO win over previously undefeated Raul “Cobra” Martinez last May 19 at the Araneta Coliseum has a record of 21-1 with 14 knockouts.
Donaire has repeatedly said he wants to move up in weight starting at super flyweight and was depending on promoter Bob Arum to get him a fight at that weight.
Viloria who regained a world light flyweight title with a spectacular 11th round knockout over heavily-favored Mexican Ulises “Archie” Solis will also see action on the San Francisco card but Arum said he had no indication of whom Viloria’s opponent would be at present.
Because of the large Filipino and Fil-Am community in San Francisco as evidenced in the huge turnout when Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao threw the ceremonial pitch at a San Francisco Giants baseball game prior to the fight against Ricky Hatton, Arum plans to stage the double-header at the baseball stadium.
