World Super Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will defend his crown on December 15th in Houston against former world champion Jorge Arce in Houston in a bout televised by HBO according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“You know this is a fight we’ve wanted to do and now we are able to do it,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “We didn’t get it done in July, but after the Bradley situation, we went to our television partner and asked them for enough money to make it happen and it’s happening.”

Junior featherweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs), who has been calling out for a unification match with Donaire, will make his third defense in the televised co-feature.

A two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist, Rigondeaux, a southpaw, will face former titleholder Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (48-2, 33 KOs) of Thailand. Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com that the deal was agreed to on Tuesday.

“I’m emailing contracts to Thailand. We’re done,” he said. “We just went over some final stuff.”

“I’ve always liked the fight,” Cameron Dunkin, Donaire’s manager, said. “Arce’s a great name and Arce’s a tough bastard. He proved it in the fight he had with Vazquez Jr. He was a big underdog, and came back and showed what he was about (by scoring a 12th-round knockout to win a junior featherweight title). Arce will fight his ass off against Donaire.

“He’ll give it everything he’s got and he will be tough, but Nonito is so highly skilled and fighting at such a high level, I don’t see anyone at 122 dealing with him. It’s good for Nonito to get a fourth fight this year. Four times is really neat in these times in boxing where a lot of champions fight only twice a year.”

“It’s healed,” he said. “He hasn’t really done much with it (in training) yet. He’s running and staying in shape and he says if he’s in shape, he can hit with one hand for the first week or so of training and still get in four good weeks of training. That’s all he needs because he has been so active and doesn’t get out of shape.”

“HBO was prepared to go to Mexico, but the extra cost was prohibitive,” Arum said. “Donaire was willing to go there so that wasn’t the problem. The problem was we couldn’t make it work economically. They didn’t have a high-definition truck there that suited HBO and that means HBO would have to drive a truck there. It didn’t make sense for this kind of event.”

“They can say I am crazy, and much more, but I have shut the mouths of the critics in the ring many times, and against Donaire it will be no different,” Arce said. “I am preparing like never before along with the best trainer Mexico has given to the world, Nacho Beristain, and I will win on Dec. 15.”

Said Dunkin, “Nishioka is a great fighter but he was trying to play cat and mouse with Nonito. One thing about Arce, he won’t play cat and mouse. He’s coming to fight. Arce says Donaire is a good fighter but hasn’t fought anyone with any balls, so that ought to tell you how hard he will try. He’s a proud Mexican and will try to turn it into a sensational fight in Texas with so many Mexican fans there. It will be a really fun fight.”

Follow all the action as Super Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire defends against Toshiaki Nishioka. In the much anticipated cofeature, Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado go out in a much anticipated Jr. Welterweight bout that will be sure be on many fight of the year lists. The action begins at 10p, eastern / 7 pm pacific.

12 Rounds–WBO SUPER BANATAMWEIGHT TITLE–NONITO DONAIRE (29-1, 18 KO’S) VS TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA (39-4-3, 24 KO’s)

ROUND 1 Not much Donaire more active…10-9 Donaire

Round 2 not much.either…20-18 Donaire

Round 3 Donaire lands a lead right…Nishioka not throwing punches..Donaire lands a right…30-27 Donaire

Round 4 Donaire lands a body shot..40-36 Donaire

Round 5 Donaire lands a combination..Nishioka jab..Donaire a right..triple jab/right to the body..Donaire lands a jab..50-45 Donaire

Round 6 Nishioka lands a left..Donaire lands a right…Left from Nishioka…BIG SHOT ON THE INSIDE AND DOWN GOES NISHIOKA..Left from Nishioka..Combination..Hook from Donaire…left..right …60-53 Donaire

Round 7 Right from Donaire..Left from Nishioka..Left from Donaire…body..right..clash of heads..Jab from Nishioka..Jab from Donaire…70-62 Donaire

Round 8 Donaire lands a right..left from Nishioka..Straight right from Donaire…Combination from Nishioka..Right from Donaire..80-72 Donaire

Round 9 NISHIOKA GETS DROPPED FROM A COUNTER…THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

10 ROUNDS–JR. WELTERWEIGHTS–BRANDON RIOS (30-0-1, 22 KO’S) VS MIKE ALVARADO (33-0, 23 KO’S)

ROUND 1: Trading rights but Rio’s was more effective..Left from Rios and another hard left..Good combo from Alvarado..good right to the body..Trading rights..Rios lands a jab..tremendous trading at the end of the round...10-9 Rios

Round 2 Rios lands an uppercut..Alvarado lands a chopping right..good uppercut from Rios..Alvarado lands a big right..Huge uppercut and right..Body/head combo from Rios..left..good left..20-18 Rios

Round 3 Combination from Alvarado snaps Rios head back…Good left from Rios, Alvarado answers..Good left and chopping right and left from Rios..Right hand..Alvarado lands a short right and left from Rios at the bell..30-27 Rios

Round 4 Good left from Rios..Blood from Alvarado’s mouth..Good right from Alvarado that followed a jab..Good left and uppercut and a right from Alvarado..39-37 Rios

Round 5 Huge right from Alvarado..Short right inside..trading hooks to the body..Right from Alvarado..Alvarado landing heavy shots..these guys are just wailing away…48-47 Rios

Round 6 Good left and right inside from Alvarado..left from Rios..ALvarado answers back..2 short lefts from Rios..Right From Alvarado..Huge rights from Rios..left from Alvarado..58-56 Rios

Round 7 Rios landing huge shits…Alvarado is hurt….. MASSIVE SHOTS FROM RIOS AND THE FIGHT IS STOPPED

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that Nonito Donaire gave up his IBF Jr. Featherweight bout before his Saturday but with Toshiaki Nishioka.

The reasons were that Donaire did not want to participate in the IBF’s next morning weigh-in and saving $40,000 in sanctioning fees.

“So my recommendation was save the money instead of paying it and being stripped later when he wound up not fighting the (Ndlovu-Lopez) winner,” said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin.

“We respect the IBF’s rules and, by the same token, we respect Donaire’s decision to not defend the title and give the opportunity to fight for the title to somebody else,” Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said. “But the fact is, Donaire versus whoever that winds up being probably is an unsellable fight.”

Boxing’s equivalent of lighting in a bottle was captured by Nonito Donaire nearly two years ago when he knocked out accomplished Fernando Montiel within two rounds of a stunning statement that transformed him into a pound-for-pound contender.

Everything since then has been like time in a high school class. Donaire studied, did his homework and roadwork. Yet, he yearned for that bold stroke of reality that still has fans and media talking about him.

“The last three fights were experimental,’’ Donaire said in a conference call. “This fight, we are going back to boxing and being unexpected. We relied on the power in the last three fights. But this fight we will come out throwing lots of punches.’’

In a statement that sounds a lot like a bid to re-insert himself into the pound-for-debate amid doubts about whether Manny Pacquiao can beat Juan Manuel Marquez in a third rematch and only silence from Floyd Mayweather Jr., Donaire promised to reaffirm his credentials in a significant test Saturday night against another accomplished foe, Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan.

It’s another step up for Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), whose version of the super-bantamweight titles – the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization – will be at stake in an HBO-televised bout from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. In beating Montiel in February, 2011, Donaire stopped an acknowledged master of tactical skill. The proof was in Montiel’s record, then 44-2-2 with 35 KOs.

Flip the calendar forward, jump up in weight and you’re looking at Nishioka, whose record (39-4-3, 25 KOs) adds up to mastery of a division, 122 pounds, that he has quietly ruled since 2004.

“This is a fight Nonito has wanted for a very long time,’’ said manager Cameron Dunkin, who sounded as if he worried Donaire might regret that his wish was granted.

A Donaire advantage appears to be his age. At 29, he should be stepping into his prime. At 36, Nishioka is probably a step beyond his. There is also Nishioka’s recent inactivity. He hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision over skillful Rafael Marquez a year ago.

“We don’t want to take any chances at all,’’ said Donaire, who this year has fought twice at 122 pounds and won both, beating Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. by decisions. “I believe when we are at this level and at this age and even if he hasn’t fought in a while, he can be very dangerous.’’

A potential disadvantage for Donaire is the absence of trainer Robert Garcia for much of his camp. The busy Garcia was also working with Brandon Rios, who faces Mike Alvarado in a junior-welterweight clash that has potential to upstage Donaire-Nishioka.

Nishioka’s advantage rests in experience and smarts. He hasn’t been stopped once and that was in 1995 in only his second pro bout. If Donaire is trying to re-energize his pound-for-pound claim with emphasis – meaning a knockout, he might have picked the wrong guy.

“Sometimes, you don’t get the results that people look for,’’ Donaire said. “ People expect a lot from me. We have been trying to change things up to get different results. Against Nishioka we can’t let our guard down and going back to the old Nonito Donaire style of fighting smart.

“When it comes, it comes. But the proper game plan will show my power, which is what I was known for – lightning fast counters that were knocking people out because they never saw it coming.

“No matter how tough you are, if you don’t see where it’s coming from, you don’t expect it and it will knock you down.’’

And maybe knock him squarely back into pound-for-pound talk.

BOB ARUM: I am delighted to be on this call. Everybody that has any connection with boxing is excited about this card. The 122 lb. championship that will be defended by Nonito Donaire is going to be a classic. I had the opportunity to watch Toshiaki Nishioka when he fought Rafael Márquez and he is a terrific fighter and we know that Nonito is one of the great fighters in boxing but he’s going to have his hands full. I believe that his fight with Nishioka will be as exciting and as interesting as the co-feature with Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado at The Home Depot Center. We have sold over 5,000 tickets and looking for a crowd of around 7,000 which will be a virtual sell-out.

CAMERON DUNKIN: This is a fight that Nonito has wanted for a very long time. Nishioka is a great fighter. This is the kind of fight that Nonito, who is one of the great fighters fighting today and also in history, these are the kinds of fights that you get excited about because this is really a historic fight.

ROBERT GARCIA: Nishioka is a great fighter and the best in the division. He is ranked as the best super bantamweight in the world. It’s going to be a really tough fight but Nonito has been training really hard and he has to come out and perform and do what he’s been doing so far.

NONITO DONAIRE: Training camp has been going excellent. We had our last sparring yesterday and we are mentally prepared and physically prepared for this big fight next weekend and we are going to put the game plan in the works and come out of this fight victorious.

What do you think about the fact Nishioka has not fought much recently?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think that being older and being a veteran their record is never as bad as it is. We have been training really hard for this fight – we don’t want to take any chances at all. I believe when we are at this level and at this age and even if he hasn’t fought in a while he can be very dangerous.

You have been winning and dominating but three fights in a row without a spectacular KO…

NONITO DONAIRE: We have been fighting the fights and getting the victories and I think that’s what counts most. These guys I have been fighting are world champions and they are at the top of their game. Sometimes you don’t get the results that people look for. People expect a lot from me. We have been trying to change things up to get different results. Against Nishioka we can’t let our guard down and going back to the old Nonito Donaire style of fighting smart.

Nishioka has not been stopped since his second pro fight in ’95 – how much would it mean to get the KO?

NONITO DONAIRE: When it comes it comes but the proper game plan will show my power which is what I was known for – lightning fast counters that were knocking people out because they never saw it coming. No matter how tough you are, if you don’t see where it’s coming from, you don’t expect it and it will knock you down.

ROBERT GARCIA: We all know when the guys move up in weight the punches get stronger and the opponents have all been world-class fighters so it is more difficult to get the KO. It won’t be easy against Nishioka but at the beginning of training camp Nonito told me he wanted to come in and do it the way he used to do it – picking them apart little by little then knocking them out. He’s been doing it in training against lightweights, super lightweights – he’s been landing beautiful punches and combinations and I have no doubt he will do it against Nishioka. I am not pushing or asking for the knockout but in training he has been doing the right thing and if he performs like he did in training I will be happy with him.

How do you think Nishioka will try to get the job done?

NONITO DONAIRE: One thing he will try to do is land the straight that is difficult to do against me. Aside from that, I haven’t seen any tape that he can do damage with. He did great against Márquez, but Márquez is a lot slower than me. A lot of those punches won’t land with me with power. But we are very worried and very mindful of that advantage he has.

How much is he being a southpaw a problem for you?

NONITO DONAIRE: It is not so bad. I have sparred with a lot of southpaws over the years. Darchinyan was a notable southpaw and I knocked him out. And Márquez was one of the guys I took apart as well when I did decide to turn it on. We are mindful he is a southpaw. I try to do the things that are difficult for me against a southpaw and that’s one thing we figured out.

How is the drug testing going?

NONITO DONAIRE: Pretty good. A couple of days ago they showed up at my door and took 4 tubes of blood – the last time they only took 2. You never know when they’ll come in. I really believe in it. It’s good for boxing – it’s random so you really can’t hide anything at all.

Do you think it has a future in boxing?

NONITO DONAIRE: I think it will and it should be a part of boxing. For me I do the things that I do for the fans and the love of the sport. The only thing that comes out of it is good – it will gain fans.

Where do you see yourself in a year from now?

NONITO DONAIRE: Moving up to 126 pounds is another option that we have. We are looking to stay at 122 for a bit but I can work my body to be ready for 126. There are fighters at 122 that I have not faced yet and they know who they are and I am fine with facing any of them.

ROBERT GARCIA: Yes, this guy is very experienced. He is one of those guys that has been there for so many years and has done everything with every type of opponent but inside the ring he has not been with a Nonito, who stings the way he stings and has the power that he has. He hasn’t seen that and that is going to be the difference. Nonito has the power and the speed and Nonito knows what punches are going to be coming.

NONITO DONAIRE: Nishioka has power and he knows how to set it up. He’s a veteran and knows the tricks that can frustrate a fighter – that’s what we don’t want to fall into. We have a great game plan and we are ready for whatever it is.

NONITO DONAIRE: Every fight makes you stronger. Every fight makes you smarter. Going into the fight you know what you want to do. I know I am a better fighter going into this fight because of the tough fights I have had.

What about the Mathebula fight?

NONITO DONAIRE: We took it to him. We showed power. Even against a taller guy we showed we could out-speed him and get by his longer reach. We can bring that into this fight as well.

NONITO DONAIRE: The last three fights were experimental. This fight we are going back to boxing and being unexpected. We relied on the power in the last three fights but this fight we will come out throwing lots of punches.

What do you think about the co-feature?

NONITO DONAIRE: I’ll be watching that fight. That’s going to be a great fight. My fights don’t need to be fight of the year. I just go out and do what I need to do. Rios and Alvarado will go out and do what they do and make it exciting for everybody but there is no pressure for me to out-do that fight.

Would you want a fight against Abner Mares?

NONITO DONAIRE: I hope so, but that is up to the promoters, the networks and the fans. We are always willing to fight anybody.

BOB ARUM: Everybody who loves boxing come out to The Home Depot Center because they are going to see a card second to none. Two great fights and a terrific undercard and tickets reasonably priced. Almost all of the tickets are sold except for the $35 tickets. So for $35 you can watch history.

NONITO DONAIRE: I want to thank everyone and let them know that this is very exciting for me. Thanks to Bob and Top Rank for making it happen. Rios-Alvarado is going to be an incredible, incredible fight and you don’t want to miss it. I know Nishioka will go all out and I will go all out. Excitement will be in the air on October 13.

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The Super Powers of the junior featherweight and the junior welterweight divisions will go mano a mano, in a sensational night of championship boxing. Top-Five pound for pound fighter and four-division world champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE vs. WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA, and undefeated former world lightweight champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS vs. undefeated No. 1 junior welterweight contender “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Teiken Promotions and Tecate, the Donaire vs. Nishioka / Rios vs. Alvarado championship doubleheader will take place Saturday, October 13 under the stars at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Both fights will be televised Live on HBO®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

These four gladiators boast a combined record of 131-5-4 (86 KOs) — a winning percentage of 94% with 2/3 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Remaining Tickets for The Home Depot Center’s Donaire-Nishioka / Rios-Alvarado championship event, priced at $150 (sold out), $75 (Almost sold out) and $35, can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

WBO/IBF junior featherweight champion Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., enters this fight riding an 11-year, 28-bout winning streak.

Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs), of Hyogo, Japan, boast an eight-year, 16-bout winning streak in his own right, including eight world title fights.

Rios (30-0-1, 21 KOs), the former WBA lightweight champion, from Oxnard, Calif., is on the hunt for his second world title in as many weight divisions. He enters this fight having won 10 of his previous 12 fights by knockout.

Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) of Denver, has won 10 of his last 13 bouts by stoppage en route to a career-high No. 1 world rating.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com or www.hbo.com/boxing.

CARSON, CALIF. (August 8, 2012) – The Super Powers of the junior featherweight and the junior welterweight divisions will do more than flex their muscles when they battle for supremacy, mano a mano, in a sensational night of championship boxing. Top-Five pound for pound fighter and four-division world champion NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE will risk his junior featherweight world title against fellow super bantamweight champion TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA. And in the second main event, former world lightweight champion BRANDON “Bam Bam” RIOS will take on No. 1 contender “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO where undefeated records and world rankings will be at risk. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Teiken Promotions, the Donaire vs. Nishioka / Rios-Alvarado championship doubleheader will take place Saturday, October 13 under the stars at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Both fights will be televised Live on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast.)

These four gladiators boast a combined record of 131-5-4 (86 KOs) — a winning percentage of 94% with 2/3 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Information on tickets, including prices and on-sale date, will be announced soon.

“History shows there is only one way for a fighter to make the leap to stardom and that’s by accepting the challenges and risks like the ones Donaire, Nishioka, Rios and Alvarado committed to on October 13. They are young, hungry and ambitious,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.

“Fight fans everywhere will be marking their calendars for October 13 to see this superb, all-action doubleheader on our late-night franchise,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming, HBO Sports.

Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., is a consensus top-five pound-for-pound fighter. He enters this fight riding an 11-year, 28-bout winning streak, which includes an International Boxing Federation (IBF) / International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title knockout victory of defending champion Vic Darchinyan, and a fourth-round blasting of former World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko, December 4, 2010. However, Donaire’s most impressive knockout victory occurred on February 19, 2011, when he stopped defending World Boxing Council (WBC) / WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel in the second round, ending Montiel’s 25-bout winning streak while also claiming his third world title in as many weight divisions. That victory was named the 2011 Knockout of the Year. Ten of Donaire’s last 13 victories have come by way of knockout. He successfully defended his World Bantamweight Championship last year by blitzing undefeated Omar Narvaez, winning virtually every round en route to a unanimous decision victory. On February 4, Donaire captured the vacant WBO 122-pound title, winning a gritty split-decision battle over former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. He unified the title on July 7, winning a dominant unanimous decision over defending IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula.

Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs), of Hyogo, Japan, enters this fight riding an eight-year, 16-bout winning streak, including eight world title fights. After capturing the interim WBC super featherweight title via a dominant unanimous decision over Napapol Kiatisakchokcha in 2008, he was elevated to world champion where he successfully defended the WBC 122-pound title seven times between 2009 and 2011 with only two of those fights going the distance. In his last world title fight, he won a unanimous decision over two-division world champion Rafael Marquez.

Rios (30-0-1, 21 KOs), the former WBA lightweight champion, from Oxnard, Calif., is on the hunt for his second world title in as many weight divisions. He enters this fight having won 10 of his previous 12 fights by knockout. One of boxing’s most exciting fighters, Rios is known for his an all-action fan-friendly fighting style. His trainer, former IBF junior lightweight champion Robert Garcia, calls it a “throwback” style with a warrior’s mentality that screams excitement. Highlight knockout victories on Rios’ resume include Miguel Acosta, Anthony Peterson, Urbano Antillon and John Murray. He returns to the ring after winning a tough split decision over WBA interim lightweight champion Richard Abril on April 14.

Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) of Denver, has won 10 of his last 13 bouts by stoppage en route to a career-high No. 1 world rating, in the WBO. Notable knockout victims include Breidis Prescott, Ray Narh, Emmanuel Clottey and Cesar Bazan. In his last fight, Alvarado went toe-to-toe for 10 brutal and exciting rounds winning a unanimous decision over Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs) on April 14. Herrera entered that fight riding a two-year, five-bout winning streak, highlighted by victories over Ruslan Provodnikov (17-0) and Mike Dallas, Jr. (17-1-1). Alvarado’s victory over the No. 7-ranked Herrera is already a consensus Fight of the Year candidate.

The ticket prices and on-sale date for the Donaire vs. Nishioka / Rios-Alvarado championship fight event will be announced soon. For details, please visit Top Rank: Website, Facebook, Twitter or The Home Depot Center: Website, Facebook, Twitter: For HBO: Website, Facebook, Twitter.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

In February local fans attended “Welcome to the Future” in San Antonio’s Alamodome to see how Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would finally fare against a fellow Mexican. Aficionados, though, attended the event to see the “Filipino Flash” – a man whose talents were large enough to place his name among prizefighting’s elitist. Nobody was disappointed, and nobody was overwhelmed.

Saturday in what appeared to be a half-filled Home Depot Center tennis stadium in Carson, Calif., Nonito Donaire returned to HBO’s airwaves, this time a headliner, against a tall South African super bantamweight named Jeffrey Mathebula. Donaire won a unanimous decision, dropping Mathebula in the fourth round and generally outclassing the gangly South African throughout, and again nobody was disappointed and nobody was overwhelmed.

But the birdy hop made another appearance. It was its third apparition in as many fights for Donaire, a thing that happened before the midway point of each fight, within a round or two of Donaire’s realizing he’d be unable to stop his opponent in the spectacular, one-shot way he stopped Vic Darchinyan five years ago or Fernando Montiel two Februaries past.

The birdy hop happens when Donaire squares his feet, drops his hands to his sides, sets his face forward, and begins to hop frantically about an opponent, like an incited goldfinch, flapping his gloves threateningly. Sometimes he throws punches, occasionally he lands them cleanly, but mostly he hops hither and yon in an expression of frustration intended to provoke an opponent’s reciprocal frustration.

It is a wonder Donaire’s trainer Robert Garcia allows the birdy hop; it seems antithetical to what Garcia’s gym of seriously striving Mexican journeymen tries to be about. One imagines if the birdy hop came out in sparring with another of Garcia’s charges, five or six of his mates would gang up on Donaire in the restroom of an Oxnard restaurant and deliver schoolyard justice. Or is that “bullying”? The reason that doesn’t happen seems to be that Donaire doesn’t belong in Garcia’s gym as much as Kelly Pavlik does, and Pavlik – a long pressure fighter with a once-stupendous right cross – belongs there only insomuch as Oxnard, Calif. is not Youngstown, Ohio.

In San Antonio, Donaire did a mitts session with retired champion Jesse James Leija, and Leija came away from the session impressed by Donaire’s interest in trying new things – an informal curiosity betrayed by Donaire’s casual employment of the word “fun” in fight descriptions. Donaire’s pursuit of fun in the ring, though, now begins to undo his pursuit of stardom.

Local newspaper reporters always come away from boxing’s prefight promotions impressed by a B-side’s charisma and how much more time he has for them than the A-side fighter does. Donaire has a special gift for being an A-side fighter who makes himself B-side accessible during a promotion. He performs a public-workout routine where he invites youngsters to join him in the ring. He dresses well and speaks so respectfully most overlook his saying the same things everyone else does.

All of this is tolerable, nay, commendable, when Donaire blows through highly regarded opponents. The façade’s plastic shell, though, become less impressive the more time Donaire spends across from men like Omar Narvaez (UD-12) and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (SD-12) and Jeffrey Mathebula (UD-12). HBO viewers, three times now, have turned on a Donaire fight to see a prodigy and instead have seen talent shy of prodigious, shy of the mark set by the man whose image is meant to be conjured by the “Filipino” part of the Flash’s nickname.

Against Narvaez, Donaire’s elite talents were stymied by his opponent’s defensive posture – what Carlos Acevedo, with characteristic panache, called “airplane-crash position” – against Vazquez it was a broken hand or blood vessel, and against Mathebula it was a pair of sleepy legs.

Much has been made of Donaire’s noble choice to subject himself to year-round Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) testing. The group’s evangelists hope Donaire’s example will become a standard in prizefighting. Donaire’s unripped physique, stay-at-bantamweight power and dead legs, though, do not thus far bode well for the group’s prospects. There is an important balance to be struck between entertaining spectacle and fighter safety – which are not allies – and it remains to be seen if year-round drug testing is the way to accomplish it.

Balance is also part of what has claimed Donaire’s power in his most recent three fights. His balance was perfect when he clipped Montiel 17 months ago in one of his career’s two signature knockouts, but it has been imperfect since. Some of this is performance anxiety; as a man who nears his 30th birthday, Donaire realizes he’ll not be a “young superstar” in boxing much longer and tries to force a spectacular knockout in the first five minutes of each match. Some of it, too, is the nature of added weight. Just three years ago, Donaire fought 10 pounds lighter than he does now.

Quite a bit of Donaire’s newly imperfect balance, though, is attributable to his being hit more often. After Saturday’s fight, he said imperfect balance was the only thing that came between his dropping Mathebula with a round-4 counter left hook and taking Mathebula’s consciousness entirely. That’s true, but so is this: Donaire’s balance was compromised by catching most of Mathebula’s right cross with the left side of his head before throwing the counter hook over Mathebula’s outstretched arm.

Postfight talk turned to Donaire’s next opponent and his trying to become the next Asian fighter to accumulate titles of all different kinds in all different weight classes. It will not be lost on historians, however, that Donaire did not unify the bantamweight division before moving on to 122 pounds, missing quite notably the winner of Showtime’s Bantamweight Tournament. And it will not be lost on anyone if Donaire grows his way out of the super bantamweight division without first fighting Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Nonito Donaire defended the WBO and captured the IBF Super Bantamweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jeffrey Matthebula at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California..

It was a tough fight for the pound for pound entrant, Donaire as Matthebula used his four inch height advantage and pumped out fifty-plus jabs a round early in the contest. Mathebula began to bleed from the nose in round four. Late in that frame, Donaire landed a huge left hand that sent the South African to the canvas. The two traded off some middle rounds with Donaire using angles to land some good power shots.

In round eleven, Donaire landed a big right to the jaw that drew blood from Mathebula’s mouth and the slowed his punch out down for the remainder of the fight.

Donaire, 121 1/2 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines won by scores of 119-108, 118-109 and 117-110 and is now 29-1. Mathebula, 121 1/2 lbs of South Africa is 26-4-2.

Former Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik continued his comeback with a workmanlik ten round unanimous decision over Will Rosinsky in a Super Middleweight bout.

It was a solid scrap that Pavlik score a knockdown in round two from a little right inside. That did not phase Rosinsky continued to press the action. Pavlik landed alot more often and had more pop behind them and he was never really in any danger.

Pavlik, 168 1/4 lbs of Youngstown, OH won by scores of 98-91, 98-91 and 97-92 to up his mark to 40-2. Rosinsky, 168 1/4 lbs of Queens, NY proved he could be competitive with some of the elite Super Middleweights is now 16-2.

Super Bantamweight world champions Nonito Donaire & Jeffrey Mathebula have agreed to meet on July 7th in Carson, California according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“Any time you can unify a title it’s a good thing,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti. “And any time you can unify the title in a meaningful division, which junior featherweight is, it’s an even better thing. It’s a legit fight. Mathebula is a little awkward and he’s taller than Donaire. Matheubula is always in shape and has no reservations about coming to the United States for the fight.

“It’s a fight that Nonito asked for,” said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin. “Top Rank was offering us other fighters, Mijares and Marroquin to name two, but he wanted a unification fight. Nonito thought this guy (Mathebula) was a great fighter and would push him to the limit. Nonito said, ‘I want something that will fire me up and this guy presents me with a challenge.’

“Nonito is usually the taller guy. He won’t be for this fight, so I asked him if he wanted that problem,” Dunkin said. “He said he did. He said, ‘I want somebody that will really motivate me.’ I said, ‘OK.’ I think this will motivate him but it’s a dangerous fight, a scary fight. But it’s what he wanted. He specifically asked for it.”

“I have worked with Top Rank before and again these negotiations were fair and we reached the deal,” said Mathebula’s promoter Branco Milenkovic. “Now I am excited that Jeffrey is getting an opportunity to fight a great fighter like Nonito Donaire. I know there were some other names being mentioned. I am not downplaying Mijares, but Jeffrey has more ability.

“If I believed Jeffrey had no chance to win this fight, I wouldn’t make the fight. He can win the fight and he is excited to make his first trip to America to fight a big fight and be on HBO. Without a doubt, Nonito is the favorite. He’s a great fighter, but I believe Jeffrey will come to win. My fighters always come to put on a good performance.”

The HBO undercard has not been set yet but former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios, who is also managed by Dunkin, likely will open the telecast in a junior welterweight bout. Moretti said Rios’ appearance was not locked in but Dunkin said he thought it would be Rios.

Dunkin said the most likely opponent for Rios is Mauricio Herrera (18-2, 7 KOs), 31, who is coming off a competitive 10-round decision loss to Mike Alvarado in an all-action slugfest that is a fight of the year candidate.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Super Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire hurt his left hand during his Saturday night title win over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. but that hand was deemed ok after x-rays were negative.

“My hand is swollen and there is damaged soft tissue, but everything is good,” Donaire said. “The doctor said I need three or four weeks to get the proper healing and then I can go.”

“The blood was because I popped a little vein in there, near the knuckle area, but it was nothing major, just bloody,” Donaire said. “It was a vein and that’s why it was bleeding a lot. It kept bleeding and didn’t stop bleeding until the next day. My hand kept bleeding after the fight. I guess from all the impact, I popped a vein.

“It looked really bad and it felt so painful for a couple of days, but it was unbearable in the later rounds of the fight. I’m just very thankful that there’s nothing seriously wrong and that I will be ready to go when we get our next date from Top Rank.”

Top Rank, Donaire’s promoter, plans to match him with Mexican star Jorge Arce, who vacated the title Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) won to move down and claim one of the bantamweight belts Donaire had relinquished. Arce (59-6-2, 45 KOs) would move back up to 122 to challenge Donaire.

“I’m fine with fighting Arce next. That’s a fight I’ve been looking at,” Donaire, 29, said. “Whoever it is, I will be ready. Tell me who I am fighting and I will train to the best of my ability. In three or four weeks my hand should be healed and I will be ready to go. Everything is good. My hand is OK, I got my title and I’m happy.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. retained the WBC Middleweight title with a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision mandatory challenger Marco Antonio Rubio in front of an enthusiastic crowd as the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.

Chavez swept through early rounds by landing the crisper shots inside. It was a solid performance for Chavez as he was dealing with struggling to make the 160 pound weight limit and the recent reports of an alleged DUI charge in Mexico.

The fight heated up in the last three rounds with the two guys standing to toe with Chavez landing some solid head shots which was a deter from his noted body assault.

Although Rubio threw over 400 more punches he landed about twenty less and the less powerful shots then the son of the legend.

Chavez, 159 1/2 lbs of Cuilcan, MX won by scores of 118-110; 116-112 and 115-113 and is now 45-0-1. Rubio, 159 lbs of Terron, MX is 53-6-1.

Nonito Donaire claimed the WBO Super Bantamweight championship with a twelve round split decision over former champ Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

Donaire controlled the fight with power shots as he worked the body and head. In round three he had Vazquez against the ropes as he landed a hard left hook and followed up with a flurry on the ropes. That caused a mouse under the left eye of Vazquez which was visible as early as round four. Vazquez had good round’s five and six as he started popping the jab that he followed with some straight rights.

Donaire started landing some hard shots in eight and nine that culminated with a huge uppercut that was followed by a left hook that sent Vazquez to the canvas for the first time in his career. Donaire coasted down the stretch as he switched between orthodox and southpaw picking Vazquez apart from distance.

Donaire, 121 1/2 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines won by scores of 117-110 on two cards while a third judge somehow saw the fight 115-112 in favor of Vazquez.

Donaire is now 28-1-1. Vazquez, 122 lbs of Bayamon, Puerto Rico 21-2-1.

SAN ANTONIO – There was Bob Arum. There was Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. There were Nonito Donaire and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. There were Jose Sulaiman and Lupe Contreras. There were Marco Antonio Rubio and a mariachi band adorned in tight rose-colored garb and silver buckles. They were all waiting – waiting for Junior.

Friday at Alamodome, 25 minutes after he was scheduled to take the scale, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KOs), who will face fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1, 46 KOs) for the WBC middleweight title Saturday night, led his entourage to the stage. In a moment it was over; Chavez Jr. had weighed 159 1/2 pounds and Rubio had made 159, and the last of their prefight rituals was finished.

Chavez Jr. arrived in royal-blue workout attire – every thread of which he removed before taking the scale – and arrived looking drawn but otherwise unworried. After skipping an open workout Tuesday, under orders from his fitness trainer, Alex Ariza, Chavez did not hurry to endear himself to Alamo City fans. Instead he went through the motions, did no more than necessary, and did little to disabuse those who commented on his arrogance this week.

Chavez Jr., who has not faced another Mexican national since stopping Raul Munoz five years ago, might be surprised how transient his fans’ collective loyalty can be – if he gets in trouble against Rubio, Saturday. Chavez Jr. is absolutely the ticket-seller for this event, one expected to attract 12,000-14,000 fans, but fighting, as he will, before a South Texas crowd, more than a partisan-Mexican one, he could find more than a few in attendance cheer his opponent.

Before Chavez Jr. and Rubio took the scale, Friday, “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18 KOs) and Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KOs) each made weight for their WBO super bantamweight title match. Donaire weighed 121.6 pounds, and Vazquez Jr. weighed 122.

Donaire, who strolled through the Alamodome crowd in what appeared to be a Tampa Bay Lightning hat cocked sideways, was his usual picture of quiet confidence. Vazquez, though, possessed the more chiseled physique onstage and did not tire of showing it to a small Puerto Rican contingent gathered behind the barrier.

Alamodome doors for “Welcome to the Future” will open at 5:30 PM local time, Saturday, with first bell scheduled to ring at 6:30.

Today! Thursday, February 2, at 2 P.M. CT
The Alamodome in San Antonio
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

SAN ANTONIO (February 2, 2012) – Undefeated World Middleweight Champion and the Son of the Legend, JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR. (44-0-1, 31 KOs), of Culiacan, México, Top-Five pound-for- pound superstar and three-division world champion NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE (27-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., No. 1 middleweight contender MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO (53-5-1, 47 KOs), of Torreon, México, former junior featherweight champion WILFREDO VAZQUEZ JR. (21-1-1, 18 KOs), of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and Hall of Fame promoter BOB ARUM will host their final San Antonio News Conference, Today! Thursday, February 2, on the Stadium Field Level of the Alamodome. The news conference, which will be open to the public, will begin at 2 p.m. CT.

Media parking will be available in Parking Lot A located on the South side of the Alamodome. Media should enter through the loading dock tunnel, also located on the South side of the Alamodome, onto the playing field. All the participants will be available for one-on-on interviews.

Arum and the fighters will be discussing their world title doubleheader, featuring the Chávez Jr. vs. Rubio middleweight title fight and the Donaire vs. Vazquez Jr. WBO junior featherweight championship, which will take place This Saturday! February 4, at the Alamodome. Both fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, All Star Boxing and Tecate, remaining tickets to the Chávez Jr. / Donaire world championship doubleheader, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, can be purchased at the Alamodome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at (800) 745-3000.

These four warriors boast a combined record of 145-7-3 (114 KOs) – a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 79%.

SAN ANTONIO – “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire is already celebrated among boxing insiders for his hand speed, footwork, power and charisma. Now insiders have one more gift of Donaire’s to celebrate: an eye for talent.

Wednesday at ChampionFit Gym, Donaire conducted an open workout for fans and media, as part of promotional festivities for his Saturday super bantamweight title fight with Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. at Alamodome. After light stretching, Donaire invited two local boys to join him in the ring. The first one demurred, but the second bound through the ropes.

Seeing the boy was a southpaw, Donaire held his right hand aloft and ordered jab, double-jab, and jab-cross combinations. After four combos, Donaire had seen enough, looked at the ringside crowd, and said, “He’s going to be good!”

Turned out, he already is. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez was the youngster Donaire thrilled and complimented Wednesday, not knowing that in offering his bare hand to the diminutive Rodriguez, Donaire was absorbing blows from a 2012 National Silver Gloves finalist. Rodriguez was in the gym with his dad to see Donaire – Rodriguez’s favorite fighter – before leaving later in the day for Missouri, where he will compete for a national title.

Also present to supervise Donaire’s open workout was former world champion Jesse James Leija, owner of ChampionFit Gym. Leija watched Donaire work with trainer Robert Garcia and spoke about his own experience of a handpad workout with Donaire earlier in the week.

“He kicks like a mule,” Leija said. “He has power and speed, and what I really like is that he says, ‘I love trying new things.’”

Asked if he thought Donaire had a high ring IQ, Leija was emphatic.

“Very!” he said. “You can’t do the things he does without knowing.”

For his part, Donaire was confident but humble, answering questions for local media before climbing in the ring and entertaining gathered fans. Unsurprisingly, based on his roots and promoter, Donaire was asked several times to compare himself to Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.

“If you ask me (who’s better), I am going to tell myself that I am,” Donaire said, before clarifying that such self-belief is essential to any successful prizefighter.

Asked about trash-talking and being disrespectful of opponents, Donaire was animated.

“I respect my guys,” he said. “I respect everyone. I don’t do that sh-t.”

Donaire and Vazquez Jr. will join headliners Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Marco Antonio Rubio for a Friday weigh-in, before Saturday’s event. Friday’s trip to the scales will be held in front of the Alamo at 2:00 PM CT. It is open to the public.

SAN ANTONIO – Another deadline comes and goes in the silly saga of whether the two best fighters in our sport in 2009 will fight one another in 2012. It’s all bad faith now. A promoter goes to the Philippines to present his fighter four options no fan asked for. A fighter gets on Twitter to make a faux demand he didn’t make years ago, when it might have mattered.

If there is solace to be found in the tired spectacle this time round, it’s how comparatively little folks care. The truth of the Great Recession now touches every American. Quibbles between millionaires about purse splits don’t have the traction they did years ago. The parties are no closer to making this fight than last time, but at least there was no midnight conference call.

Casual fans have given up on the Fight That Would Have Saved Boxing. When they ask about it these days, it’s to change the subject rather than make an honest inquiry. They hear you talking about Andre Ward or Sergio Martinez, men they wouldn’t recognize if watching a Ward-Martinez fight, and interrupt you to say: “What I want to know is when are Mayweather and Pacquiao gonna fight!” You start to explain the latest cramp in negotiations. Then you find no one listens; hey, what do you think of Tebow Mania?

Promoter Bob Arum appears, now, to be the party who does not want the fight to happen while he wrestles with lesser evils: Do I dislike Golden Boy Promotions enough to guarantee Mayweather a gargantuan purse and make the fight without them, or do I dislike Mayweather enough to deny him the fight his resume needs? The likely answer is: Arum dislikes more whomever he just spoke to.

People round boxing no longer believe Floyd Mayweather is afraid to lose to the guy they saw fight Juan Manuel Marquez in November. In a better world for Mayweather, that would be enough; he won the fight without having to make it. One senses, though, Mayweather’s financial situation is precarious enough he’ll soon need the Pacquiao purse.

Boycott both of them, then, and to hell with it!

No, not so fast. There is an interesting balance that must be struck, especially as it pertains to Arum. His company, Top Rank, is the country’s preeminent promoter. It is an excellent outfit that makes its fighters and employees available. Top Rank does the best kick-off press conference in the business.

That’s what went through my head a couple Tuesdays ago at Alamodome. We were gathered before a very large stage and sound system for an otherwise intimate affair. The field behind us was being transformed from Alamo Bowl host to All-American Bowl host. If you looked far enough northwards and used your imagination, you could see where the black curtain would hang for February’s HBO “World Championship Boxing” fight card.

Arum was there. Hall of fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler was there. Trainer Freddie Roach was there. HBO’s Peter Nelson was there. Puerto Rican great Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. was there. Future great Nonito Donaire was there. And yet, we all waited for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. – still known as “Son of the Legend.”

Chavez was the reason for our gathering, whatever we might opine of him. In three Saturdays, Chavez will headline 2012’s first big fight card, in this city. Unbeknownst to him, probably, he’ll begin quite a stretch for Texas boxing, one that will see a Showtime card 150 miles southeast of here, in Corpus Christi, a couple weeks later, and then an even bigger HBO card 200 miles east of here, in Houston, a few weeks after that. But it all starts with Chavez.

That is a sentence difficult to write as it is to read.

Chavez’s fanbase is gaining some authenticity, though. Chavez is fighting bigger, better, darker men, little by little, while projecting more of the spoiled-rich-kid resentment ridiculed by those who do not understand it despite its historical ferocity and effectiveness.

It’s a funny thing, ticket sales. Nobody I’ve ever spoken to – in what is becoming a tradition of covering Chavez Jr. fights – ever names him as a favorite fighter. Most Mexicans pay homage to the patronym while humoring the epigone. And yet.

Sitting on the same side of the podium as Chavez was Nonito Donaire, who appears to have every tool. Donaire will make an exciting fight with Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. on the same night Chavez fights fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Rubio. Donaire is enormous even for his new weight class. He is well-spoken. He gives every appearance of sincerity. He’s not classically handsome, but he has a great sense of style. He’s an incredibly talented prizefighter. And yet.

Chavez is the main event here on Feb. 4, not Donaire. They will fight in Lone Star State because Chavez sells more tickets here than Donaire would in the Bay Area (and because Texas is a right-to-work state, with all that implies).

Which brings us to the mystery of ticket selling. It’s easier, at times, to celebrate those who sell tickets than to explain those who do not. Donaire is an offensive force of the first rate who’s made a habit of winning his biggest fights by knockout. He also has the best promoter in the United States. And yet.

If it were tenable, one might suggest, the premium networks, HBO and Showtime, ought to offer licensing fees that are a percentage – whatever percentage – of a fight’s paid gate. This wouldn’t change the networks’ rosters of fighters, necessarily; it would change the compensation systems they use.

Where would that leave Nonito Donaire? Hard to say. But it’s also a good yellow light for aficionados looking to cure boxing. Ridding ourselves of corrupt sanctioning bodies, alone, won’t do it. But it may also not be simple as rewarding ticket sellers.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

A year ends with memories of those who are gone, optimism for those who are emerging and hope for those who are back. There are lessons from unresolved controversies and controversy that never ends. Farewell Joe Frazier, Genaro Hernandez, Ron Lyle, Henry Cooper, George Benton, Nick Charles and George Kimball. It won’t be the same without you. Hello Andre Ward, Nonito Donaire, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Seth Mitchell, James Kirkland, Gary Russell Jr. and Jose Benavidez Jr. You’re the future.

Those new calendars in the mail are an empty canvas. Opinions and predictions are as irresistible as they are frivolous and about as forgettable as graffiti. Here are a few – the good, the bad and the tongue-in-cheek. But, first, a warning. For anybody who takes any of them seriously, remember that I picked Alfredo Angulo to beat Kirkland, who got up from a first-round knockdown and made the prediction game look foolish with a sixth-round stoppage.

Now, a look at what might – and might not — unfold:

Opinion: There’s a better chance of Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather in 2012 than there is of a fourth fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao-Marquez IV would look a lot like II and III. What’s the point? It would end in just another noisy controversy about who won. Fair or not, Marquez’ legacy rests on the brilliant way he made Pacquiao look beatable. In subtle adjustments from round-to-round last November, he forced Pacquiao to hesitate and think. It was enough to prevent Pacquiao, an instinctive fighter, from establishing a rhythm. Allow Pacquiao to get on a roll, and there’s no stopping him.

Prediction: Marquez, who keeps his promises, retires

Opinion: Somebody needs to convince Mayweather that his 90-day jail sentence on reduced charges for his role in domestic abuse is a chance to think about a legacy he has put in jeopardy. If he stays out of trouble and vows to devote the next few years to his evident talent, he still can achieve the respect he always believes has been denied him. That respect isn’t an entitlement. It’s won by fighting through adversity. For the first time in his career, he is facing some that he can’t trash-talk or side step. It’s the biggest fight of his life.

Prediction: Mayweather beats Lamont Peterson three months after his release.

Opinion: Mayweather advisor Al Haymon is the elusive powerbroker, whose influence is there, yet hard to quantify. There is power, perhaps, in the mystery. Mayweather has called the publicity-shy Haymon “The Ghost.’’

Prediction: Ghosts will get quoted more often than Haymon.

Opinion: Pacquiao will have to restore some lost confidence after getting a majority decision over Marquez in fight he halting called “not so happy.’’ He also has to find a way to solve troublesome leg cramps, which he says affected him in victories over Shane Mosley and Marquez. The fractured confidence should be easy enough to repair for the Filipino Congressman and lieutenant colonel. But the cramping is another issue. It might be a sign, an early symptom, of a fighter one step past his prime.

Prediction: Pacquiao beats Tim Bradley, then Miguel Cotto in a rematch and gets promoted to major general.

Opinion: World Boxing Council chief Jose Sulaiman is issuing statements and clarifications faster than interim titles. This time, he’s trying to say he didn’t really mean to tell the Filipino media that “beating a lady … it is not a major sin or crime.” In a subsequent statement, he said that he “developed female boxing.’’ Memo to women who hold one of the WBC’s lime-green belts: Do what Riddick Bowe did in 1992 and dump it in the nearest garbage can.

Prediction: Sulaiman will say something stupid.

Opinion: We’re just beginning to see how good Ward can be. With news that he beat a Carl Froch with a left hand fractured in two places, we’re also beginning to see how tough he is. A reported audience of fewer than 500,000 watched his victory on Dec. 17 over Froch in Showtime’s final of the Super Six Tournament. That was disappointing.

Prediction: After the hand heals, he’ll win two in 2012, pushing his record to 27-0. This time, more than 500,000 will watch his patient, yet sure path to pound-for-pound contention.

Opinion: Questions loom as to whether Canelo-Chavez Jr., will ever happen because Chavez Jr. a junior-middleweight, is said to be at about 180 pounds at opening bell. If Chavez Jr. is too heavy for Canelo, he’s too heavy for Miguel Cotto. The weight issue might force Chavez Jr. into a fight with Sergio Martinez late in 2012.

Prediction: Martinez wins a late-round stoppage.

Opinion: People close to Antonio Margarito have urged him to retire. Even if his surgically-repaired eye can withstand further punches, the tissue around it cannot. After years of sustained punishment, it doesn’t take much for it to lacerate and swell. That was evident early in his loss on Dec. 3 to Cotto.

Prediction: A defiant Margarito continues to fight, bleed and lose in Mexico.

Opinion: Referees struggled throughout 2011 to get it right. Russell Mora missed 11 low blows in Abner Mares’ first victory over Joseph Agbeko. Joe Cortez was looking away, toward the timekeeper, when Mayweather dropped Victor Ortiz, whose hands were down and his eyes on Cortez. Joe Cooper took two points from Amir Khan for pushing off Peterson. If Cooper warned Khan, it was only evident after careful review of the tape long after Khan’s loss on the scorecards was announced. Cooper’s penalties were the difference.

Prediction: More instant replay. It works in the NFL. Nobody has a tougher job than boxing’s lone ref. Let technology be his ally.

Opinion: Top Rank and Golden Boy, Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya, will continue to exchange insults instead of letting their respective fighters exchange punches.

Prediction: A year from now, we’ll be talking about whether Pacquiao-Mayweather will happen in 2013.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was on hand at the Madison Square Garden Theatre to capture the images from an exciting undercard before the Bantamweight title bout between Nonito Donaire & Omar Narvaez

Photos by 15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra from this past Saturday’s world Bantamweight championship between Nonito Donaire and Omar Narvaez

Before Nonito Donaire’s win over Omar Naravez this past Saturday, Top Rank hosted a press conference to announce the spectacular undercard that will take place before the much hyped rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. 15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra got the shots of Mike Jones, Pawel Wolak, Delvin Rodriguez and Mike Lee who will be appearing in high profile bouts on December 3rd.

NEW YORK–Nonito Donaire always dreamed of fighting at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tonight, his dream came true when he faced Omar Navarez. Donaire sported a record of 26-1, 18 KO’s and weighed in at 116 1/4lbs, while Omar Navarez had a record of 35-0-2, 19 KO’s amd weighed in at an even 117lbs.

The fight started slow, with each fighter establishing their range. Donaire was definitely the stronger fighter in the ring, but was giving Navarez a lot of respect. Navarez did well in using his southpaw stance to his advantage. Despite Donaire being in control, neither fighter made a lasting mark in the first quarter of the fight.

Things heated up a bit in the fourth, as a combination from Donaire briefly stunned Navarez. Both fighters exchanged quick combinations after that, but it was Donaire in control. Navarez, fighting out of a defensive shell, was able to control the pace of the fifth round, seemingly frustrating Donaire. The sixth round of the fight saw the pace swing right back in Donaire’s favor with his flashy combination fighting.

Unfortunately for the fans, Navarez stopped throwing punches I’m the seventh round, making the fight very dull. Entering the tenth round, Navarez’ offense was still a no-show. In the eleventh, Navarez finally decided to throw, but it was too little too late.

In the twelfth and final round, the crowd chanted, “This is bullshit.” They were not entirely wrong, but at least Donaire tried to fight. The final scores read 120-108 on all three scorecards, giving Donaire a shutout victory.

The co-feature of the evening saw Miguel Angel Garcia (26-0, 22 KO’s, 125lbs) look to continue his unbeaten record against journeyman Juan Carlos Martinez, (18-12-1, 6 KO’s, 125lbs). Despite his less than stellar record, Martinez started the fight throwing nice combinations, but they did not seem to phase Garcia. Garcia, on the other hand, just seemwd overly patient. Occasionally, he would land a powerful right hand just as a reminder of what he is capable of. Finally, towards the end if the third, Garcia landed a picture perfect counter left hook that dropped Martinez hard. Martinez beat the count and managed to survive the round, but not before eating another left hook right before the bell. Instead of starting the fourth round strong, Garcia went back to his rigid game plan and waited for the opening. This time it was a right hand. Martinez was down again, but not out. With so much time left in the round, the end was inevitable, and another hard combination forced the referee to call the fight at 2:46 of the fourth round giving Garcia a TKO victory. Garcia is unbelievably economical with his punches.

The popular Tommy Rainone (14-4, 3 KO, 150) faced off in a tougher than expected bout against Brad Jackson (13-6-1, 7 KO’s). Rainone is a fighter that likes to fight from a distance amd work his way inside with combinations. Jackson, on the other hand, is a tangy fighter himself, but also happens to be much taller than Rainone. This combination amounted to an extremely boring fight that saw fans booing the fighters and cheerig the final bell. The scores of the bout read 60-54, 59-55, 58-56 all for Tommy Rainone, giving him a unanimous decision victory.

In a match-up scheduled for four rounds, Jonathan Gonzalez (4-0, 4 KO’s, 113 1/4 lbs) squared off against Jose Rivera (3-3-2, 113 lbs). Gonzalez’ speed was too much for Rivera. After scoring a second round knockdown, Gonzalez continued to coast through the fight despite Rivera constantly being in his chest. In the end, the scores read 60-53, 60-53, and 59-54.

The popular Sean Monaghan (9-0, 5 KO’s, 174 1/4lbs) took to the ring against Anthony Pietrantonio (7-7, 6 KO’s, 174 1/4 lbs) in a fight scheduled for six rounds. Both fighters showed early that they wanted to make a statement with their power punches. Pietrantonio learned quickly that you so not trade punches with Monaghan, a he was met with lots of leather over the course of the fight. By the fifth round, Monaghan had his opponent winded, and sensed a stoppage. A garage of power punches followed, and the referee had no choice but to stop the fight at the 2:51 mark if the fifth round, giving Monaghan a TKO win.

Michael Zewski (10-0, 6 KO’s, 148lbs) looked to keep his unbeaten record intact against Keuntray Henson (4-3, 1 KO, 147lbs). It wasn’t hard work, and Zewski looked impressive showcasing his range and smarts at such an early point in his career. Henson came out aggressive in his southpaw stance, and Zewski remained pissed behind his jab and sneaky left hook. Soon afterwards, Zewski unleashed his right hand, and Henson went down. He barely beat the count, making it up at the count of nine. Zewski went right back to work and smashed Henson with a left hook, knocking him out. The referee called the fight at 1:27 of the first round, and Zewski is credited with a spectacular TKO.

The opening bout of the night featured Long Island native, Cletus Seldon (3-0, 1 KO, 146 1/2 lbs) against Jose Segura (2-2-2, 1 KO, 146 1/4 lbs) of Miami. Seldin showcased his power early, scoring a knockdown off a right hand. Segura was able to regain his senses quickly, but Seldin’s overwhelming style dominated the rest of the fight. Segura started the second round landing some combinations, but that only caused Seldin to shift gears and turn up the pressure. A fierce combination had Segura reeling and finally down. He beat the count, but was immediately met with a powerful left that sent him right back down. The referee waved off the fight at 2:52 of the second round, giving Seldin a TKO victory.

It’s a reach to make too much out of one punch. But we can hope, can’t we? I’m talking about Nonito Donaire, whose second-round thunderbolt in February dumped Fernando Montiel into a shaking heap and created an aura about Donaire.

There was more than just power. There was anticipation.

“Before I went in the ring I explained to each and every one of them how it was going to end,’’ Donaire said of a forecast he made in his dressing room.

No lie, Donaire trainer Robert Garcia said.

“He called it,’’ Garcia said during a conference call before Donaire’s bantamweight title defense against Omar Narvaez at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. “We’re not making this up or exaggerating. That’s just the way it happened.’’

If one left hook – the biggest punch in what thus far has been a forgettable year – says something about Donaire’s timing, maybe he can deliver some timely relief from a mind-numbing succession of confusion, controversy and disappointment.

Given what’s just happened, it’s reasonable to be skeptical. No, amend that. Fans should remember what Victor Ortiz forgot in September when he was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr. Protect yourselves at all times.

On the scale of things nobody expected, there was Mayweather’s left-right combination at an Ortiz who left his hands at his side and didn’t keep a wary eye on the threat in front of him. What else could happen? Plenty.

Crazy turned bizarre in Los Angeles last Saturday when Chad Dawson’s shoulder did more apparent damage in the second round than any of his punches, dropping Bernard Hopkins, who must have felt like Michael Vick after an encounter with a defensive end.

By now, everybody has their own spin on what happened. From this corner, it still looks as if Dawson’s TKO victory should have been ruled NC, as in No Contest. But the absence of any real discussion in mainstream media indicates apathy, as in WC. Who Cares? Some controversy sells. Mayweather’s stoppage of Ortiz did, in large part because HBO’s Larry Merchant’s wish that he was 50 years younger so he could kick Mayweather’s ass.

But too much controversy creates exasperation, then boredom, the real peril. This is a year that began with Tim Bradley’s technical decision in January over Devon Alexander in an empty Silverdome near chilly, rundown Detroit. It continued with Shane Mosley’s retreat into defeat in May against Manny Pacquiao. Then, there was David Haye stubbing his toe, apparently injured, in a July loss to Wladimir Klitschko and Abner Mares’ majority decision over Joseph Agbeko in an August bout marred by low blows. Haye announced his retirement last week. A lot of fans, all with healthy toes, might join him this week, especially if any of them heard about an insulting post-fight news conference in the wake of the Dawson-Hopkins mess.

Dawson, who says he doesn’t trash-talk, talked nothing else, perhaps because Hopkins was in the hospital for a reported shoulder separation. Dawson mocked Hopkins for claiming to be a gangster. A gangster, Dawson said, would not have quit. Huh? Since when have gangsters been known to be courageous? A gangster would have let his boys, guys in the hallway with hidden nunchucks, continue the fight.

Then, there was a question about whether customers at Staples Center and in HBO’s pay-per-view audience should get their money back.

“Let Bernard take his paycheck and refund everybody,’’ Dawson promoter Gary Shaw said through a predatory grin.

Translation: Suckers.

All of this is a round-a-bout way of getting back to Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), a likeable Filipino-American. By all accounts, he is expected to score a dominant victory over Narvaez, who has an impressive record (35-0-2, 23 KOs), yet is mostly unknown in the Northern hemisphere. But he is from Argentina, which is enough reason for Donaire to beware. Sergio Martinez, 2010’s Fighter of the Year, is from Argentina. So is Marcos Maidana, who was an unknown Argentine with an impressive record in 2005. Ask Victor Ortiz about him.

“I really believe that Nonito will be a major star,’’ said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who has reunited with Donaire after a nasty battle eight months ago when Donaire tried to jump to Golden Boy Promotions.

The year needs one desperately. If Donaire’s timing is as good as many think, Saturday in New York is the perfect time and place to begin.

AZ Notes
Phoenix promoter Michelle Rosado stages her third card Friday night at Madison Events Center with eleven bouts, eight pro and three amateur. Super-bantamweight Emilio Garcia-Colon is scheduled for the main event. First bell is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PST).

Former Phoenix junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal, a Hall of Famer, expects to see his brother and former trainer Danny Carbajal for the first time since Danny went to prison in 2008 on fraud charges related to the theft of an estimated $2 million. A hearing is scheduled for Friday morning in downtown Phoenix. Michael is suing to recover property purchased by Danny, who was released from prison in July.

15rounds.com Claudia Bocanegra was on hand at The Edison Ballroom just off of Times Square to capture the pictures for the press conference to announce the December 3rd rematch between Super Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto taking on Antonio Margarito plus an announcement of Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire October 22nd defense with Omar Narvaez

Famed trainer Robert Garcia talks Mayweather-Ortiz; Cotto-Margarito II; Donaire and Brandon Rios

Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito announce their December 3rd rematch plus Nonito Donaire announces his October 22nd title against Omar Narvaez

World Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire talks about his October 22nd clash with Omar Narvaez

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, World Bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will make his New York debut when he takes on Omar Naravez on October 22nd at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

“We’re finalizing stuff with the Garden now,” said Top rank President Todd duBoef. “It’s where stars are born. If you can play New York, you can play anywhere. It doesn’t matter what sphere of entertainment you are in — music, theater, athletics — to play that city is a big steppingstone for anybody.”

“Stylistically, it’s a good match and his record speaks for itself,” duBoef said. “Narvaez made an incredible amount of defenses (at flyweight). He is a pressure fighter who will come to Nonito, and you couldn’t ask for anything else. He will put pressure on him and be there all night. We felt that from a television and fan point of view this could be a very crowd-pleasing fight.”

“Narvaez is, by far, the most popular fighter in Argentina and I believe one of the most popular fighters in South America,” Top Rank’s Carl Moretti said. “He’s small, but Donaire is going to be bigger than any bantamweight because you are basically looking at a featherweight fighting at bantamweight. Donaire is going to grow into the featherweight division, so the size factor will be there no matter who he fights. He has freakish size, like Thomas Hearns when he was at welterweight. So you have to come up with the toughest style and toughest guy to challenge him.

“Look, Narvaez is an undefeated southpaw, clearly experienced and a champion in his own right. He brings tremendous credentials to the ring.”

“The fact that Donaire, a top three pound-for-pound fighter in the world, gets to display his talents to the East Coast fans and media at the mecca of boxing is a plus for everybody,” Moretti said. “We are aware of a large Filipino contingent in the tri-state area, which we will directly market to as well as making sure we have a lot of local flavor on the undercard. We love these types of opportunities and challenges in promoting. It’s so much better than going to a stale casino atmosphere, and better for the sport overall.”

Bantamweight title holder Nonito Doanire will make his ring return on November 5th in a bout to be televised by HBO according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“We are looking to secure an opponent and a site for Nonito’s return on Nov. 5 and we’re very excited,” said Todd duBoef, President of Top Rank.

The names presented to HBO as possible opponents, according to Moretti, are Argentina’s Omar Narvaez (35-0, 23 KOs), a reigning junior bantamweight titleholder and former longtime flyweight titlist; former two-time title challenger Silence Mabuza (23-3, 19 KOs) of South Africa; Mexico’s Christian Esquivel (23-2, 17 KOs); Sebastian Gauthier (21-2, 13 KOs) of Canada; former junior bantamweight titlist Alexander Munoz (35-4, 27 KOs); and Juan Mercedes (26-3, 17 KOs) of the Dominican Republic.

“Narvaez’s people have interest in the fight and there’s a hefty offer out to them right now,” said Top Rank’s Carl Moretti.

“We have absolutely zero interest in pursuing a Darchinyan rematch,” Moretti said. “We’ve been down that road before. We’ve tried to make it and it didn’t get done. I don’t think there’s anything for Nonito to gain by fighting him again.”

LAS VEGAS, NEV (July 25, 2011) – World Bantamweight Champion and consensus Top-Three pound-for-pound fighter, NONITO “The Filipino Flash” DONAIRE, and TODD DUBOEF, President of Top Rank, Inc., announced today that they will move forward together in promoting Donaire’s stellar professional boxing career.

“I am very happy and pleased to announce a recent reconciliation between Top Rank, and myself, and I am also extremely excited to announce that I will be back in the ring this coming October,” said Donaire. “There were some details that required attention, and I feel confident now that my professional goals are being understood and respected by Top Rank. And we have likewise come to a mutual understanding and agreement as far as our common objectives in boxing and how we can work better together as a team. I was able to sit down and figure out the fight map, which both Top Rank and I could agree with. Having a shared goal now, and working together, I’m certain will only make for better fights, and better boxing, now and in the future.

“I am really happy with and proud of my team, especially my manager Cameron Dunkin, and my wife, Rachel, for helping us come to the best solution to recent issues we addressed together. To my fans who have always supported me, thank you for continued support and well wishes. You help keep me motivated, and I will only become a better and better fighter with time. Thank you.”

Added duBoef, “We are thrilled to move forward with Nonito, his team and
capitalize on what we have built together. Nonito has unlimited ability and charisma which was on display in his last thrilling performance against Fernando Montiel. A bright future lies ahead for Nonito and Top Rank.”

Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, who now resides in San Leandro, Calif., has won world titles in three different weight divisions. He is riding an 10-year, 25-bout winning streak. Donaire captured his first world title when he knocked out undefeated defending IBF/IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in 2007, a title Donaire successfully defended three times – all by knockout – during his two-year reign. He vacated the flyweight championship to move up and win the WBA interim super flyweight title by defeating Rafael Concepcion in 2009. Donaire’s reign lasted one year before moving up in weight again and smashing defending WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel via a second-round knockout to claim his third world title in as many different weight divisions. Donaire has won nine of his last 10 fights by knockout.

“The most consistent launching pad for future champions for a full decade” ShoBox: The New Generation celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary with a live match between top prospects Diego Magdaleno and Alejandro Perez. Watch highlights from today’s boxing stars who made their bones on ShoBox including Chad Dawson, Ricky Hatton, Robert Guerrero, Kelly Pavlik, Kermit Cintron, Joan Guzman, Victor Ortiz, Paul Williams, Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch, Nonito Donaire, Andre Ward, and more.

LOS ANGELES (March 29, 2011) — Today, the Honorable Daniel Weinstein (ret.) enjoined Golden Boy Promotions from promoting Top Rank boxer Nonito Donaire for the duration of Top Rank’s exclusive promotional agreement with Donaire. Golden Boy wrongfully signed Donaire to a four-year promotional agreement in the face of Top Rank’s agreement with the up-and-coming star. The Arbitrator’s ruling paves the way for Top Rank to promote Donaire’s next bout and continued career, something the Las Vegas-based company had started arranging last month before Golden Boy signed Donaire.

Top Rank’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli of O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles stated, “We are pleased with Judge Weinstein’s carefully considered decision. Top Rank hopes it can put the lawyers and legal fight behind it and return to doing what it does best — promoting the most talented boxers and the most entertaining boxing matches in the world today.”

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