Nonito Donaire: record, next fight and profile →
Nonito Donaire, Jr. is back in the US after spending a month in the Philippines where he and wife Rachel formally exchanged vows before God in an elegant church wedding attended by their closest friends and family members. Coincidentally on the way back to the US, Donaire and I boarded the same plane where I was able to interview him about his Philippines trip and career plans for 2012.
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, a deal to match bantamweight king Nonito Donaire and former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. is imminent. The fight will be Donaire's first at the 122 pound limit. The fighter known as the Filipino Flash struggled to get down to 118 pounds in his previous fight versus Omar Narvaez and later revealed that he was only at 60-70% of his capacity in the fight.
Hollywood, Florida - Felix "Tutico" Zabala, owner of the Florida based promotional company, All Star Boxing, advised us that he's waiting for confirmation from Bob Arum of Top Rank, regarding a super bantamweight clash between Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (21-1-1, 18KOs), and "Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18KOs).
WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire says he is not certain who he will face when he moves up to super bantamweight for his next fight expected to take place in February 2012.
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will fight former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr for the WBO super bantamweight title relinquished by Mexican warrior Jorge “ Travieso” Arce sometime in February next year.
It’s not often that a fighter vacates the title with the intention of regaining it in his very next fight. Nor is it usual for that same fighter to give up that same belt to move down a division in what is thought to be the twilight of his career.
According to the WBO President Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel, Mexico's Jorge "Travieso" Arce has vacated the WBO's super bantamweight title because he plans to drop down in weight to face Angky Angkotta for the vacant WBO 118-pound title on November 26th in Mexico. Arce wants to make history by winning a fifth title in a fifth weight division.
During a recent interview, I spoke with trainer Ronnie Shields to get his take on his talented stable of fighters. Shields works with the likes of former champion Kermit Cintron, junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara, and undefeated super middleweight prospect Edwin Rodriguez, but it may be Guillermo Rigondeaux who stands alone as his most talented pupil.
There’s some confusion over the WBC bantamweight title held by Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire which he retained with a twelve round shutout against undefeated two division champion Omar Narvaez at the Theater of Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago.
Hollywood Florida - Earlier ths weelk, Cuban star Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux, and his physical conditioner DJ. Montanocordoba, were working hard in the gym as they began the training camp for the scheduled Showtime televised clash with WBA super bantamweight champion Rico “Suavecito” Ramos, which takes place on December 31st.