Filipino ring star Nonito Donaire Jr., will abdicate his throne as IBF flyweight champion to gun for the interim WBA super flyweight title against Rafael “El Torito†Concepcion, the man responsible for dealing the resurgent ALA Stable standout AJ “Bazooka†Banal his first and only career defeat, so far.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told fightnews.com that the championship bout is likely to take place on August 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Donaire (21-1, 14KOs) last fought on April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum where he scored a smashing fourth round knockout of Raul Martinez to retain his twin IBF/IBO 112-pound belts.
Arum said in the same internet report that another Filipino is Bernabe Concepcion will see action in the supporting main event against Steven Luevano for the world featherweight plum.
The match was actually scheduled in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown last May 3 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but Arum called if off after Luevano suffered an injury during training.
Arum, on the other hand, divuldged that Fil-Am Brian Viloria will defend his IBF light flyweight crown this September in Cebu City.
The card will also possibly feature the much-sought immediate rematch between Cebuano Rodel Mayol and Ivan Calderon for the WBO light flyweight diadem.
Mayol and Calderon slugged it out over the weekend at the Madison Square Garden in New York, but the bout was declared a technical draw after Calderon sustained a gaping gash on his face that rendered him unfit to continue the fight.
In a post-fight interview, Calderon said he is keen on giving either Viloria or Mayol a return bout.
“I want Brian Viloria next. If I don’t get Viloria, we have no problem giving Mayol a rematch. He fought a good fight against me. He’s a worthy challenger and I have no problem getting it on again with him. I need about thirty days of down time for this cut to heal and then I’m looking for Viloria or a Mayol rematch!†said Calderon in a report by fightfan.com.
source: Bohol Chronicle
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=20733.0