By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao will begin promoting his showdown with Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios during a one week visit to the United States in mid-July.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that he "will wait until the end of the week to talk to Manny and Michael Koncz" about the promotional tour.
Arum said that after the July 27 fight card at the Cotai Arena of the plush Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau where No.1 ranked Milan Melindo will battle Juan Francisco Estrada in a mandatory challenge for the WBO flyweight title which Estrada won convincingly from WBO/WBA champion Brian Viloria last April 6, they would hold a press conference in Macau.
The Top Rank promoter said that after Macau they would embark on a major tour to the cities of Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai to promote the November 24 clash between Pacquiao and Rios in a card that would also feature popular former two-time Olympic flyweight gold medalist Zou Shiming along with promising undefeated Filipino fighters Genesis Servania and the Penalosa brothers Dodie Boy Jr and Dave, sons of former
two-division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa.
Arum also told us that the manager of former WBO/Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond belt super bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Cameron Dunkin, was in his office on Monday and that Dunkin informed him that Donaire would like to return to the ring at the end of October or early November.
Donaire, who lost his title in a stunning upset by former Cuban two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux, is recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur in his right shoulder and to repair two torn ligaments said he is recovering faster than expected.
Arum said the initial plan to match Donaire against newly-crowned WBC 122 pound champion Victor "Vikingo" Terrazas who won the title vacated by Abner Mares by beating former super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares in a close, split decision win may have to wait since No.1 ranked Vic Darchinyan wants to face Terrazas for the title.
Arum said that - "it takes Terrazas out because they don't want to wait until November."
However, he said - "we'll see what happens. We will have everybody here and make the matches" indicating that should Darchinyan who won by a 4th round TKO over Javier Gallo after dropping him three times while being h imself sent to the canvas once beats Terrazas, then a rematch between Darchinyan and Donaire "is possible."
Darchinyan has clamored for a rematch after being knocked out by Donaire in an IBF/IBO flyweight title fight on July 7, 2007.
