by Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is excited over WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel’s statement that he’s got a big fight lined up in either November or December and that Donaire is the likely opponent.
Donaire told us “I am thrilled and happy about the news. It’s very good to hear.”
Boxingscene.com's Jhonny Gonzalez quoted Montiel’s statement regarding his refusal to participate in a Showtime Super Six bantamweight tournament which was also turned down by Donaire and former champion Hozumi Hasegawa from whom Montiel won the title with a stunning 4th round TKO.
"I was told that I'm going to fight in September, and then have a very important fight in November or December and that might come against Nonito Donaire," Montiel told Sal Rodriguez. The September opponent is likely to be former world champion Christian Mijares.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum earlier reiterated that Donaire would face Montiel but that there was an internal debate on whether to put the Donaire-Montiel showdown on the undercard of the planned November 13 battle for the vacant WBC light middleweight title against Antonio Margarito or the December 4 title fight between Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Montiel made his position clear when he said “I want the big fights and Nonito is with Top Rank, as am I, and there is a big possibility that fight will happen."
