DONAIRE BELIEVES A UNIFICATION TITLE FIGHT VS MARES WOULD BE GREAT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Dec 2012
WBO, Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? believes the next best fight for him would be a unification title fight against WBC champion Abner Mares.
In an interview at the ABS-CBN Christmas party, Donaire told the Manila Standard that rivalry between the Philippines and Mexico heightens interest and Mexicans like Mares are tough guys and we are excited to fight them.
Donaire who last week scored a 3rd round demolition of Mexican warrior Jorge ?Travieso? Arce at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas told us ?fighting Mares would be great but again it's Top Rank-Golden Boy, Showtime-HBO but hopefully the fight can be done? although he conceded ?it's gonna be hard.?
Informed by the Standard that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum some time ago said the Mares contract with Golden Boy Promotions is set to expire soon and if that happens then the fight could be made, Donaire replied ?if they can do it, that?ll be great. I?m definitely going to fight him.?
Donaire said he is ?excited? about a possible fight with Mares whom he referred to ?as one of the best out there. He?s fought the guys who are in the top five and defeated them all and I?m the top dog and is the only one he hasn?t fought yet.?
He indicated ?it's going to be an exciting fight if it does materialize.?
Should negotiations for a Mares fight fall through, Donaire maintained that ?if I?m going for the titles next year then (Guillermo) Rigondeaux would be one of the guys, maybe to shut them up.?
However, he claimed the Rigondeaux camp was ?making it difficult? even as he accused them of ?doing it for the money, nothing else.?
Should that happen, Donaire told us ?we might go up to 126 (featherweight) and if any fight at 122 happens then I?ll drop down.?
Donaire said should Miguel ?Mikey? Garcia defeat Orlando Salido in their title fight in January he won?t fight Garcia because ?he is my trainer's (Robert Garcia?s) brother and we are teammates and have the same management so there?s no possible way of doing that. We are friends and there?s never in my mind that I will cross paths with Mikey. I know Mikey can beat Salido but there are other guys out there that are world champions.?
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