By Ryan Maquiñana

Frank Espinoza, manager of former two-weight world titlist Vic Darchinyan, made the case for his fighter to earn a rematch with reigning Fighter of the Year Nonito Donaire.

“Vic’s been in there with the best fighters in the world in the lower weight classes,” Espinoza said.  “He’s got a new team with Espinoza Boxing and the Top Rank banner.  He’s very popular in both Australia and the United States, and based on how good he’s looked lately, he wants revenge.  He wants to avenge his loss to Donaire, and this is his motivation right now.”

Since losing his flyweight belt to Donaire in 2007 via fifth-round stoppage, the power-punching Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KOs) has enjoyed a recent renaissance since ascending to 122 pounds and signing with Espinoza and promoter Top Rank last year.  The Armenian-Australian dominantly downed previously unbeaten Luis Del Valle on HBO and demolished Javier Gallo in four frames last month.

“Vic would like to come back at 122 [pounds] to fight Donaire,” Espinoza said.  “There’s no saying that he couldn’t come back at a catchweight, but that’s something we would have to discuss with him.”

Donaire’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, told BoxingScene.com on Monday that a trio of opponents were in the mix to face the former 122-pound king in late October or early November—Darchinyan, featherweight Orlando Cruz (20-2-1, 10 KOs), and Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs), who dethroned the 122-pound king on points in April.

“Right now we’re waiting to hear from [Top Rank vice president] Carl [Moretti] to go over all the offers and what type of money is being offered.  I know I said earlier we’d make a decision by today, but it looks like it’ll be tomorrow instead.”

Dunkin would not state a definitive preference on which fight appealed to him the most.  Instead he deferred to Donaire, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and is expecting his first child with wife Rachel in July.

“The Darchinyan fight looks good, or the Rigondeaux rematch, but they all do,” Dunkin said.  “I’m going to leave it up to Nonito to decide what’s best for him.”

Espinoza believes that Darchinyan would be the wisest choice on the table.

“First of all, Vic’s style is more pleasing to watch than Rigondeaux’s in terms of how they match up, and I know Nonito is all about making fun fights for the fans,” Espinoza said.  “Also, Vic has done a lot more than Cruz in this sport and he’s back on the rise.  It would be an entertaining, fan-friendly fight, and since they’re both with Top Rank, we can definitely make it happen.”

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.