TV MONEY HOLDING UP DONAIRE-DARCHINYAN REMATCH
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 May 2010
Gary Shaw.
An agreement on the eagerly anticipated rematch between WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire (23-1, 15 KO?s) and WBC/WBA champion Vic ?The Raging Bull? Darchinyan (34?2-1, 27 KO?s) is being held up by a difference over money.
After Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who promotes Donaire and Gary Shaw who handles Darchinyan had initially come to terms, Shaw turned around and said that the money being offered for the TV rights especially in the Philippines was not enough and unless Arum upped the ante, he would turn away and go after someone else.
The latest word is that Shaw is looking at the possibility of Darchinyan moving up to bantamweight to fight the winner of the Abner Mares ? Yohnny Perez IBF title fight at the Staples Center on May 22 after a tune-up fight against Filipino flyweight Richard Garcia (21-10-1, 5 KO?s) set for May 20 in New South Wales, Australia.
Donaire told us a rematch with must happen because that?s the fight boxing fans want to see. He told insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Darchinyan had claimed he (Donaire) was scared of him and pointed out that the best way to settle the issue would be to get it on, so he could repeat what he did to Darchinyan when he knocked him out in the 5th round of their IBF/IBO flyweight title on July 7, 2007 with the stoppage being named the ?Knockout of the Year.?
Donaire revealed that ?a few days ago we got a call that the fight (against Darchinyan) was good and both Cameron Dunkin (Donaire?s manager) and I agree that we really need to make this fight happen. It has to happen. Everybody wants to see it.?
Donaire added from a personal standpoint ?I want to shut his mouth and when I beat him it ends it all. I want to prove to the people that I knocked him out and that?s what I?m going to try to do again? even as he stressed he would wish to become the WBA 115 pound champion and remove the interim tag adding ?I really want to go for it.?
Donaire told us he really doesn?t know what the real score is but claimed ?they have been telling me that it?s a go on August 21 and I have been training for it. I have been sparring with southpaws and trying to focus on left-handers.?
Among the southpaws Donaire has been sparring with is Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr, the outstanding Filipino amateur champion who recently turned pro and signed up with Dunkin and Donaire. Penalosa Jr is the son of former two division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa who is also a member of Donaire?s training staff which includes brother Jonathan Penalosa.
Donaire said he is ?training hard so that I don?t have to worry about the weight? since he has had problems staying within the 115 pound limit and wants to move up to the bantamweight limit of 118.
He emphasized over and over again ?I want to make a statement out there that let?s make this fight happen. I want Darchinyan and I know that Darchinyan wants to fight me. So lets stop all the BS and lets make the fight happen.? Donaire indicated it would be unfair for him to be told that he is fighting a right hander and then to have the promoters turn around and say he is fighting a southpaw.
A skilled fighter with both speed and power, Donaire is also keen on reinforcing his standing in Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound top ten and has been frustrated for some time now over the fact that he had wanted to face big name champions like WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel and WBO super flyweight champion Jorge Arce but hasn?t been able to get them into the ring.
Donaire recalled that he was supposed to fight Montiel at the Araneta Coliseum , the home of the famed ?Thrilla in Manila? between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and said ?I wanted that fight for the longest time and we were training for three months then all of a sudden he (Montiel) pulled out.?
Donaire said that if a Montiel fight can be made then ?moving up to 118 would be the best option for that but at this time I want to get those belts at 115 and my priority is Darchinyan right now because there have been negotiations and its been a long time I wanted to fight again and I really want that (Darchinyan) fight.?
Montiel who scored a sensational upset by scoring a 4th round TKO over Japan?s highly touted Hozumi Hasegawa on Friday night in Tokyo has said that after a rest he wants to fight Donaire and Darchinyan which provides a widow of opportunity for the increasingly frustrated ?Filipino Flash.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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