DONAIRE WIN WILL CONTINUE HIS LEGACY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Oct 2012
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum believes that a win over WBC champion emeritus Toshiaki Nishioka will "just continue the legacy" of WBO/IBF champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire who battles Nishioka for the coveted WBC diamond belt at the Home Depot Center in Carson City on Sunday, Manila Time.
Arum told the Manila Standard that Donaire wants to stay at 122 "for a while" so he could have an opportunity to run through the remaining opponents in the division. He said Donaire's plan "is to fight as often as possible which means three or four times a year."
However, Donaire has to first overcome Nishioka who was described by Hall-of-Fame TV commentator and boxing writer Joe Koizumi as a "very experienced fighter with a big heart."
Arum himself described the Japanese southpaw as "a tremendous fighter. I really am a big fan of Nishioka who handled and beat Rafael Marquez with ease. He is a very hardworking Japanese boy. He's a no nonsense, real professional who gets himself really prepared for a fight and Akihiko Honda (who handles Nishioka) really likes his chances."
Arum said the one year layoff may help Nishioka since "sometimes a one year layoff is good particularly when a fighter starts climbing up in age. It lets his body rejuvenate itself."
Several top class opponents were mentioned as future opponents of Donaire including Mexican warrior Jorge Arce, Guillermo Rigondeaux and the winner of the title clash between WBA champion Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno and WBC champion Abner Mares who face off on October 27.
Asked about the difficulty of making a Donaire-Mares fight should Mares beat Moreno since he is promoted by arch rivals Golden Boy Promotions, Arum pointed out that Mares' contract with Golden Boy Promotions "is running out so once his contract runs out" the fight could happen.
However, the problem is that Donaire "is being raised and fostered by the premier network HBO while Mares has fought on "Showtime" and they have a small audience compared to HBO's audience. It's such a big big fight that you'll want it on HBO so the best thing is to wait until the contract runs out and Donaire fights Arce and Rigondeaux and hopefully win those fights then Mares if he beats Moreno will be available."
Arum believes that the Donaire-Nishioka or the Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios - Mike Alvarado war could well be "Fight of the Year. "
He said they are "two very competitive fights and its a card that has unbelievable attention here. The writers are coming from all over and usually that doesn't happen. We are going to fill up that place. We'll have over 7,000 which is practically a sell-out. The only seats that are left are the low $35 seats. everything else is completely sold."
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