By Mesuli Zifo
SOUTH African fighter Tshifhiwa Munyai has entered into a shortlist of opponents earmarked to challenge Nonito Donaire for his WBO and WBC bantamweight titles in a venue yet to be confirmed on November 5.
Munyai (21-2, 10 KOs) who holds the IBO junior featherweight title is prepared to drop down to the bantamweight for a shot at the “Filipino Flash” who was in danger of being stripped of his crown by the WBC due to inactivity induced by his promotional woes.
This when Donaire attempted to leave Top Rank and crossed over to Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) only to find that his contract was watertight.
With the WBC threat hovering above his head as he has not defended his title since winning it by blitzing Fernando Montiel in two rounds in February, Donaire (26-1, 18 Kos) is reportedly returning to the ring and has compiled a list of opponents he would like to defend against.
Besides Munyai, Mexican whirlwind Jorge Arce who holds the WBO junior featherweight crown he lifted from Wilfredo Vasquez Jnr via a 12th round stoppage this past May, is also the hot favorite to get the nod because of his WBO status and being Donaire’s stablemate at Top Rank, meaning Bob Arum would promote the fight in-house.
However Munyai’s promoter Rodney Berman insisted that the chances of the lanky fighter to get the shot were great, adding that a verbal agreement has already been reached.
“We are only awaiting the approval of the WBC, which I do not think it will be such problem because Munyai is rated sixth in the division,” said Berman’s publicist and former world champion Brian Mitchell.
Munyai recently moved up to the junior featherweight division to capture the IBO title after beating Filipino Danilo Pena in South Africa this past March.
Prior to that he dropped a highly controversial points-decision to Mexican Christian Esquivel for the WBC silver bantamweight title when he took the fight at two weeks-notice but put forth a gutsy performance and was only denied a draw when he was deducted two points in the fifth and nine rounds.
The disputable outcome prompted WBC president Joe Sulaiman to order and immediate rematch which Munyai turned down in favour of the IBO title in junior featherweight division.
Mitchell said Munyai is still capable of making the bantamweight division and will not hesitate to drop down in weight class for the opportunity to face Donaire.
Should Donaire’s fight come to fruition it will mark the second time the Filipino Flash faces a South African fighter after he scored a sixth round stoppage on cuts of Moruti Mthalane in defence of his IBF flyweight crown in Las Vegas, US on November 1, 2008.