source: philstar.com
WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he is assuming that he will fight on May 28 but clarified it was HBO that set the date although Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has taken the lead in signing up an opponent.
The Filipino Flash said he has not signed any contract to fight whomever or whenever. He pointed to his manager Cameron Dunkin and lawyer John Bailey, both based in Las Vegas, as the negotiators who are working out details of his promotional contract and next bout.
Donaire noted that his promotional contract with Top Rank ends in May. “It will expire before May 28 so if the fight pushes through, it may or may not be with Top Rank,” he said. “Everything depends on what Cameron and John negotiate. At this time, I don’t know what’s going on in the US. I know they’re negotiating. As far as I’m concerned, I’m going to be ready to fight on May 28 and it doesn’t matter whom I fight. My goal is to unify the bantamweight championship and if no opponent steps up, I’m prepared to jump to the superbantamweight division.”
Bailey served nine years with the Nevada Athletic Commission where he was once the chairman. He is the managing partner of Bailey Kennedy LLP and lists as his specialties, corporate litigation, gaming and health care law.
Donaire disclosed that last year, he signed a two-fight deal with Top Rank to face Vladimir Sidorenko and Fernando Montiel. Before the press conference for the Sidorenko bout, Donaire said he was asked by Top Rank to sign another contract, this time stipulating a one-year extension and a rematch with Montiel at 122 pounds if he beat the Mexican.
“I told Top Rank if they insist on Nonito signing the contract, there would be no press conference,” said Donaire’s wife Rachel. The contract was withdrawn and Donaire went on to knock out Sidorenko and later, Montiel.
Donaire said there is talk that Montiel wants a rematch at 122. “I don’t really care whom I fight,” he said. “That’s up to Cameron and my promoter. All I know is after I beat Montiel, I went up to him and it seemed like he didn’t know where he was. He had a blank stare. I talked to him but he didn’t talk back. I think the fight should’ve been stopped when he went down. His legs twitched like he had a convulsion. He struggled to get up. He was in no condition to continue. When he got up, the referee (Russell Mora) asked him to come forward and he didn’t. Still, Mora let it go on.”
Donaire said he’s not bothered by conflicting reports that his next fight will be in Oakland or the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
“They’re talking right now,” he said. “I understand Atlantic City is being considered because (welterweight) Mike Jones will be in the undercard and he’s big in the East Coast.” Jones, 27, was in the undercard of the Donaire-Montiel main event in Las Vegas last month and raised his record to 24-0, with 16 KOs, by outpointing Jesus Soto Karass. Five of Jones’ last seven outings were held in Atlantic City.
Donaire said he plans to visit Cebu with his wife this weekend. He confirmed his attendance at the Elorde Awards Night on March 25 and the next day, will leave for San Francisco to start training for his next fight.
“I don’t know whom I’m fighting next,” said Donaire. “I’m willing to fight in Japan. They floated the name of (Anselmo) Moreno but now, he wants more money than what they’re willing to pay. I’ll just train as hard as I can for whomever comes next.”
Moreno, the “super” WBA bantamweight champion, was scheduled to defend his crown against Lorenzo Parra but when the possibility of fighting Donaire came up, made himself available. Parra’s camp is reportedly up in arms protesting the cancellation of the Moreno fight. The “regular” WBA 118-pound titlist is Koki Kameda and Donaire has expressed interest in meeting the popular Japanese in Tokyo. Another option is to take on the winner of the April 23 Los Angeles showdown between IBO champion Abner Mares of Mexico and IBF titleholder Joseph Agbeko of Ghana. But if May 28 is set for Donaire’s next bout, the Mares-Agbeko survivor won’t be a viable opponent because it’ll be too soon for the winner to fight again.
Donaire said if he fights on May 28, it’s not likely he’ll break training camp to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Sugar Shane Mosley fight in Las Vegas on May 7. “I might be cutting it too close,” he said. “I would love to go and cheer for Manny and also take pictures. Photography is my new hobby. I had a photographer’s press pass to take pictures of the Rios-Acosta and Martinez-Hatton fights from ringside.”
source: philstar.com
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