BOB ARUM CONFIRMS PLANS OF NONITO DONAIRE'S RETURN TO THE BIG APPLE
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 Dec 2011
New York ? Bob Arum was in a happy mood earlier today at the B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square where the final press conference of the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito II undercards was held. It might be because that he sold out the MSG two days before the big fight on Saturday. Or it might be because in seven days, the ageless Arum celebrates his big 80th birthday. I asked Arum about recent reports that Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire will be back in New York for his next major fight. "Yes, that's the plan," Arum replied. "Maybe on March 3rd, rather than February because we are checking out dates," he added. He also confirmed that The Theater of MSG, where Donaire fought Argentinean Omar Narvaez last October 17th is the possible venue of the fight. Donaire won a commanding UD victory against a timid Narvaez that night in the almost sold-out theatre.
Top on the list of names to face Donaire is Puerto Rican, Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. I asked Arum if Vasquez Jr. is the guy, he simply said "Yes." The 21-1-1 (18 KOs) Puerto Rican is rated at Super bantamweight and this indicates that Donaire will be climbing up one weight class higher than his last fight. Vasquez Jr. is the former WBO Super Bantamweight belt holder. He lost that belt to Mexican, Jorge Arce on May 7, 2011 at the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao - Shane Mosley match in Las Vegas. That is Vasquez's only setback in his young career. Arce won that fight via a 12 round TKO in what has been a very close fight going to the last round. In fact, two judges had the fight as a draw at the end of the 11th. Vasquez's corner threw in the towel when their ward was rained by a flurry of punches from Arce with less than a minute gone from the round. Vasquez rebounded from that loss with a 3rd round KO of another Mexican, Roberto Carlos Leyva in his home country of Puerto Rico in October.
Donaire came back to the States last week after almost a month long vacation in the Philippines, the highlight of which is his Catholic Church wedding with wife Rachel. He had his first day of training last Tuesday in anticipation of his upcoming fight. Roberto Garcia, Donaire's trainer was also at the presser earlier as his other pupil; Brandon Rios will be seeing action in the ring this Saturday. I asked Garcia about Donaire's status of which he confirmed that Donaire has started training already. "Oh yeah, he already started training." Garcia responded. "We haven't started training camp but as soon as this fight is over, I will need to get in touch with him and we'll get back to work," he added. Donaire shares his coach with two combatants that will share the limelight at The Garden in Rios and Antonio Margarito who fights in the main event against Cotto.
Donaire's first appearance in the Big Apple was well accepted by boxing fans from the area which includes the large Filipino population here. Bernie Bahrmasel who handles publicity for a number of Top Rank fighters including Donaire loves the idea of him returning to New York. "He (Donaire) loved being here in New York City and the huge Filipino population really seems to take to Nonito," he told me. "And I think it'll even be more so if he came back here and fought. Nonito is one of the greatest fighters in the world and is a terrific, terrific guy to work with," Bahrmasel said.
If the fight with Vasquez Jr. materializes in the Big Apple, the son of the Puerto Rican legend will be bringing with him a large number of Puerto Rican fans who calls this city their second home. It will surely be a success at the box office if these two fighters who command a large number of their countrymen in the area fight here. Maybe that is why Bob Arum is all smiles today. Just like Cotto- Margarito II, he sees another sell-out in the making in Nonito Donaire versus Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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