FilAmstar.net: Arum: Donaire-Montiel match on for November

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Arum: Donaire-Montiel match on for November
Jul 23, 04:43 PM

By JUN MEDINA

Bay Area Filipino American boxing star Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will challenge world bantamweight champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel in November, according to Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

Arum said that details of the fight, such as the purse, venue and the exact date are being worked out with both sides that a final decision will be known in a few days.

Both fighters are handled by Arum’s Las Vegas-based promotional company.

Both Donaire and Montiel are coming off impressive victories. Donaire (24-1, 16 by knockouts) stopped knockout artist Hernan “Little Tyson” Marquez in the eighth round to retain his World Boxing Association interim super flyweight title July 10 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Even more impressive was Montiel, who stopped knocked challenger thrice before finally stopping Rafael Concepcion in third round to defend his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles last Saturday (July 17).

Considered the best bantamweight in the world today, Montiel (42-2-2, 32 by knockouts) will be the biggest challenge for Donaire, who has signified his desire to move up in weight and collect titles along the ways like his famous idol Manny Pacquiao.

Donaire welcomed the chance to win a third world title following his frustration after talks for his much-awaited rematch with super fly champ Vic Darchinyan fell through.

“That’s really the big fight for me. Montiel’s a great champion; for me he is the best in the bantamweight division [but] I think I can handle him,” Donaire said in an interview on the Sports Chat radio program Tuesday in Manila.

The 27-year-old Donaire, who has been dubbed by his fans and Pinoy media as the next Manny Pacquiao expressed his desire to fight in the undercard of his famous idol. Pacquiao is expected to return to ring on Nov. 13, possibly against either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto to gun for a record-enhancing eighth title in as many weight classes.

“I really want to fight in the undercard of Manny, this will be big for Filipinos,” said the Pinoy boxing star who is now based in San Mateo. “But then that depends on the venue because last I heard, they wanted to go to Mexico and my manager wouldn’t want that. We’ll see.”

In an earlier interview, Donaire admitted his difficulty keeping weight which forced him to relinquish last year the WBO flyweight title he won three years ago from Darchinyan.

He won the WBA interim super fly belt against Concepcion on August 15, 2009 and has successfully defended the title twice.

Donaire said he intends to move up in higher weight classes to get bigger fights, including a shot at WBO super bantamweight titlist Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. of Puerto Rico.

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