Donaire vs. Lopez Still Being Worked on By Arum
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
AJ “Bazooka” Banal’s decision to move up to bantamweight and not struggle to make the super flyweight limit has apparently opened the door for Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to step up and battle WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez.
Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that negotiations were well underway for Banal to get a title shot at Lopez and it was a pity that the promising Filipino southpaw had a problem making the 115 pound limit.
Lopez who has a record of 39-7-2 with 32 knockouts won KO’s won the title relinquished by Mexico ’s Fernando Montiel with a unanimous decision over Thailand ’s Pramuansak Posuwan last March 28 in Bayamon , Puerto Rico .
Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin in an overseas telephone conversation with us said both he and Arum were working on getting the Lopez title fight done for August 22 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas .
Donaire and wife Rachel are back in San Francisco after a belated honeymoon in Hawaii where they said they had a great time.
Donaire said he is ready to get back into the gym to prepare for his next fight, hopefully against Lopez for the WBO super flyweight title.
Donaire is coming off a smashing fourth round TKO of previously undefeated Raul “Cobra” Martinez at the famed Araneta Coliseum last April 19 where he dropped Martinez twice in the first round, once in the third and once more in the fourth before the referee called a halt.
