By Rey Danseco
FILIPINO champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will takes on a veteran Luis “Titi” Maldonado of Mexico on December 1 at Foxwood Hotel in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Donaire will put his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight titles on the line.
Also slated in the card is the separate fight of IBO light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver and World Boxing Council (WBC) light middleweight titlist Vernon Forrest against George Blades and Michelle Piccirillo, respectively.
The 29-year-old Mexican earned his second chance for the IBF/IBO belts at the 112-pound weight limit after he won an eliminator over Sergio Espinoza on Oct. 5 in Corona, California.
Maldonado failed in his bid for two world titles last year. He figured in a split draw with Cristian Mijares of Mexico in their WBC super flyweight title eliminator in February and then suffered an ugly 8th round knockout loss to then IBF/IBO flyweight titlist Vic Darchinyan in June.
Donaire captured the belt from Darchinyan when he knocked out the Armenian-Australian with one-left hook in the fifth round on July 7 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The 24-year-old Filipino will climb in the right with a record of 18-1-1 with 11 knockouts. Maldonado, who is half-inch short in height compare to the champion, has 37-1-1 with 28 knockouts.
Donaire originally wanted to unify his titles, but World Boxing Council titlist Daisuke Naito, World Boxing Association king Takefumi Sakata and World Boxing Organization titleholder Omar Narvaez refused to fight him.
