by Ronnie Nathanielsz

After a few days of uncertainty following disagreement over the big purse that Jorge” Travieso” Arce was demanding to fight WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire - the issue has been resolved and the fight will push through at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on December 15.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that “it’s a done deal.”

Donaire was at special ringside when Mexico’s Gamaliel Diaz upset defending WBC super featherweight champion Takahiro Aoh at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan over the weekend.

The WBC reported that Donaire was present to witness the surprising twelve round unanimous decision victory of Diaz.

The WBC described Donaire as “one of today’s sensations in boxing” and has been  closely associated with Japan as he regularly visits and spends time in that beautiful country.

BoxingScene/Manila Standard noted that when Donaire scored a 9th round TKO over Japanese southpaw Toshiaki Nishioka on October 13 at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, California - there were some Japanese friends and supporters who flew to watch Donaire’s fight although many more arrived from all over Japan to support Nishioka.

Donaire's rousing win, in which he also dropped Nishioka in the 6th round with a perfectly-time uppercut, proudly displayed the WBC Diamond Belt he won at the Diaz-Aoh title fight.

Arum also confirmed that undefeated southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KO’s) would face IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez on the undercard of the fourth showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 8.

Gesta’s trainer Vince Parra said the fighter from Mandaue in Cebu is “ready to go” and that Gesta’s father Anecito Gesta has been a great help in training the southpaw, motivating him  and keeping him isolated.

Parra indicated they would move to the quiet of Big Bear on Thursday to also benefit from high altitude training for what he believes will be a tough fight because of the somewhat awkward style of Vazquez.

He said  Gesta “is coming along great and is ready to pull the trigger and be taken off the leash.”

There are things he does that suits Mercito very well. He is an unorthodox guy but Mercito isn’t very orthodox himself, so we feel very comfortable. He is a champion and we respect him but Mercito is excited to get that belt.”