By Mike Coppinger
As first reported on BoxingScene.com, Bob Arum is mulling over the possibility of a Yuriorkis Gamboa-Nonito Donaire fight in 2012. The proposed featherweight bout would be a high-profile HBO bout and one the network would jump at, according to HBO Sports V.P. of Programming Kery Davis.
“An incredible fight,” said Davis. “That’s the kind of fight that I would hope would be a big HBO fight. I think it’d just be a great fight for the fans, as a boxing fan I’d love to see it. [Gamboa’s] talent jumps off the screen. The combination of speed, power, but then there’s something else, there’s that “it” factor there, that he fights with a certain amount of arrogance. It’s very telegenic.
I think he’s one of the top five most talented fighters in the sport. And on sheer talent, maybe top two or three. “Donaire is talented as well. I think most people now have him in the top five boxers in the world.”
As for how the fighters would matchup stylistically on TV, Davis likes the prospects.
“I don’t know that [Donaire] has the sheer aggression that Gamboa has, but he has a unique skillset that he may even be a little bit more polished,” said Davis. “It’s a great matchup.”
Mike Coppinger is a regular boxing freelancer for USA TODAY and Ring Magazine. He’s a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the Ring Ratings Advisory Panel and the Yahoo! Sports Boxing Panel. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger.