Donaire's Next Opponent is Likely Arce, Hints Arum

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The possibility of a rematch between IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and newly crowned super flyweight champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan who added the WBC and WBA belts to his IBF crown, isn’t out of the picture as yet.

Darchinyan in a post-fight interview after his stunning demolition of Cristian Mijares vowed to avenge his loss of his flyweight titles to Donaire by a 5th round stoppage on July 7 last year and called out Donaire while the Filipino said he would fight Darchinyan “anytime, anywhere.”

Donaire said relations between his former promoter Gary Shaw who promotes Darchinyan and Donaire’s present promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank are not that good which meant a rematch could be “down the road.”

However, in an overseas telephone conversation with insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Arum said “Darchinyan is in the mix” along with WBA super flyweight interim champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce and WBO champion Fernando Montiel, both of whom won over the weekend.

Arce scored a 4th round stoppage of Isidro Garcia while Montiel who moved up to bantamweight, won a unanimous ten round decision over Juan Alberto Rosas. Arum said it wouldn’t be a problem to get Montiel to fight as a super flyweight.

Arum didn’t indicate who he was leaning towards in his next fight for Donaire and said “we will see how we match them up…Arce and Montiel and Drachinyan and Donaire and we will figure out who to put the Mexicans against.”

However, with Darchinyan short of the WBO super flyweight belt which is held by Montiel, it is a real possibility that he would like to grab the title from Montiel and create history in the 115 pound division which would leave Donaire to go after Arce’s WBA super flyweight crown.

Arum disclosed that Donaire’s father/trainer Nonito Donaire Sr told him “he wants him (Nonito) to lay off until March because he has a broken finger.”

Arum said he had spoken to Peter Chanliong, Solar Sports CEO who indicated “they want the fight in the Philippines where they’ll put on a big show and he will fight against either Montiel or Arce.”

He said Arce and Montiel “are both my guys” with Montiel promoted by Fernando Beltran which is basically the same as Top Rank because of their long and rewarding relationship.