Donaire vs Arce Set, Battle in December

It appears the Filipino Flash will meet El Travieso in the ring after all. It appeared the two will not fight later this year due to financial issues but Top Rank president Bob Arum has sealed the deal to deliver the fight. 

It's going to be an interesting fight.

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After a few days of uncertainty following disagreement over the big purse that Jorge” Travieso” Arce was demanding to fight WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire the issue has been resolved and the fight will push through at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on December 15. 

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told the Manila Standard that “it’s a done deal.” 

Donaire was at special ringside when Mexico’s Gamaliel Diaz upset defending WBC super featherweight champion Takahiro Ao at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan over the weekend. 

The WBC reported that Donaire was present to witness the surprising twelve round unanimous decision victory of Diaz. 

The WBC described Donaire as “one of today’s sensations in boxing” and has been closely associated with Japan as he regularly visits and spends time in that beautiful country. 

The Manila Standard noted that when Donaire scored a 9th round TKO over Japanese southpaw Toshiaki Nishioka last October 13 at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, California there were some Japanese friends and supporters who flew to watch Donaire’s fight although many more arrived from all over Japan to support Nishioka. 

Donaire's rousing win in which he also dropped Nishioka, the classy southpaw in the 6th round with a perfectly-time uppercut, proudly displayed the WBC Diamond Belt he won at the Diaz-Ao title fight. 

Arum also confirmed that undefeated southpaw Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KO’s) would face IBF lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez on the undercard of the fourth showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez at the MG< Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 9, Manila Time. 

Gesta’s trainer Vince Parra said the fighter from Mandaue in Cebu is “ready to go” and that Gesta’s father Anecito Gesta has been a great help in training the southpaw, motivating him and keeping him isolated. 

Parra indicated they would move to the quiet of Big Bear on Thursday to also benefit from high altitude training for what he believes will be a tough fight because of the somewhat awkward style of Vazquez. 

He said Gesta “is coming along great and is ready to pull the trigger and be taken off the leash.” 

There are things he does that suits Mercito very well. He is an unorthodox guy but Mercito isn’t very orthodox himself, so we feel very comfortable. He is a champion and we respect him but Mercito is excited to get that belt.”

via Ronnie Nathanielsz, Philboxing

BREAKING NEWS: DONAIRE-ARCE A GO IN MEXICO ON DEC. 15

It appears the recently triumphant Filipino Flash will go up against El Travieso later this year. Can Donaire's speed, skills, and power deter the Arce's iron chin and sheer aggression? Another top question is, will Nonito's hand be good enough for the said bout? 

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MANILA -- The highly anticipated showdown between 4-division champion Nonito Donaire Jr and Mexican star Jorge Arce is a go in Mexico City on Dec. 15, 2012. The deal will be finalized by Top Rank President Bob Arum on Monday. Donaire, who is currently in Manila to sit as one of the TV panelists for this evening's world championship battle between AJ Banal of the Philippines and Punglulang Sor Singyu of Thailand, had just successfully defended his WBO superbantam belt last week against long-time champion Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan in Carson, CA. The Mexican slugger Arce, according to reports, was not impressed by Donaire's performance and was quoted as saying he has the key to beat the speedster Donaire. More to come... (With reports from Ronnie Nathanielsz and Dong Secuya) 

Philboxing.com

Donaire Scores KO, Wins Boxing Chess Match Against Nishioka

Carson, CA - Three weight division world champion Nonito Donaire continued his domination of the 122 pound weight class with a smashing TKO win over Japanese world champion Toshiaki Nishioka. The win improved the Filipino Flash's record to 30-1 (19 KO) while the challenger dropped to 39-5 (24). 

The fight was very tentative as both fighters started to feel each other out for the early rounds. It was a boxing chess match without the fireworks in the early going. The challenger proved a tough nut to crack as he was determined to place his right glove over his face to protect it from the champion's bread and butter left hook. However, Nonito proved that he was the superior fighter as he danced and punched his way around the challenger. 

In the 6th round, the champion saw an opening and dropped the Japanese with a powerful left uppercut. The challenger appeared to be hurt and briefly exchanged with the champion. In the 9th round, Donaire baited Nishioka to come in and as the challenger jabbed, the champion released a powerful right straight that landed flush on the jaw. Nishioka beat the count but after several furies from the champion, the referee mercifully stopped the fight. 

With the victory, Donaire is poised to strut his stuff even more with more lucrative fights looming in the horizon. Opponents mentioned are the ever-durable Jorge Arce of Mexico and flashy Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux. 

This is the third fight of Nonito in the 122 pound division. He previously held world titles in the 112 and 116 pound divisions.