DONAIRE WILLING TO FIGHT MARES, CONDEMNS MORA AS A HORRIBLE REFEREE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Aug 2011
WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire says he has no problem in case Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions come to terms for a unification title fight with Abner Mares.
Donaire spoke to the Daily Inquirer after Mares won a hugely controversial majority decision over IBF champion Joseph Agbeko at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Referee Russel Mora failed to deduct a single point from Mares for several low blows and erroneously credited Mares with an eleventh round knockdown when he caught Agbeko with a clear low blow and even angered the TV commentators and fans for his insistence that it was a correct call even when the slo-mo TV replay showed Mora was wrong.
Showtime commentator Al Bernstein called Mora?s performance in the ring ?the most disgraceful performance of a referee that I have seen in the past 15 years.?
Donaire branded Mora who refereed his fight against Fernando Montiel when he allowed the Mexican to continue after he was dropped and was in no condition to go on, ?a horrible referee.?
Donaire said ?if they want to make it happen I?m always ready to fight him. I don?t mind whoever they put in front of me. If they want to get Mares, I don?t mind.?
Asked whether he was concerned with Mares? penchant to land low blows Donaire replied ?I don?t think he can because he won?t be able to catch me.?
Donaire said there was some confusion over the date of his next fight which was originally set for October 22, then Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said it had been moved to November 5 which is six days before Donaire?s church wedding to Rachel Marcial and then again moved the fight date to October 22.
Donaire said if the fight is on October 22 he would leave for training camp at the Undisputed Gym next week. He added ?whatever it is I want to start my ten weeks of training next week if its October 22 but if its November 5 then I?ll have a few extra weeks getting in shape.?
Filipino fight fans will get a chance to judge for themselves when the controversial Mares-Agbeko fight will be telecast by AKTV IBC Channel 13 on Sunday, August 21 at 7 p.m.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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