Boxing News 2014: Arum Eyes Donaire as Undercard Fight for Pacquiao in Nov 23 Cotai Arena Bout
November 2013 looms as the month of the rematches for two Filipino boxing champions - Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire. Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum announced on Monday that Donaire, who was declared winner over South African boxer Simpiwe Vetyeka, would serve as the undercard for the fight of Manny Pacquiao on Nov 23, ABS-CBN reported.
Donaire has offered Vetyeka a rematch after he won in a controversial bout at the Cotai Arena in The Venetian, Macau, on Saturday, May 31. The fight was stopped after the 4th round because of the eye wound of Donaire caused by an accidental headbutt, preventing the champ from seeing.
The referee then relied on the score cards of the referees that showed identical scores of 49-46 in favour of Donaire, who would likely serve as the undercard for the main event. With Donaire's offer, chances are he would have a rematch against Vetyeka.
Read also:
Boxing News 2014: Donaire-Vetyeka Rematch Possibly in November
Boxing News 2014: Donaire Gets 5th Title; Wins Over Vetyeka Via Technical Decision After 4th Round
Boxing News 2014: Mayweather Posts in Instagram That 'God Has Spoken to Him' & Confirmed the Boxer is King
Pacquiao, on the other hand, would likely meet Mexican Boxer Juan Miguel Marquez for the fifth time or American pugilist Timothy Bradley whom Pacquiao defeated on April 12, but is seeking a rematch.
Arum is the promoter for the two Filipino champions. Donaire has increased his boxing titles to five, the latest being the WBA flyweight, while Pacquiao upped his collection to nine to reflect his WBO bantamweight title he took from Bradley.
Besides placing Donaire as the possible undercard fight for the main event, Arum wants to work something out also so that at least Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN could show Donaire's bout, while Pacquiao's would surely be aired by rival network GMA.
Donaire said there is a possibility his fight could be a month earlier in October if his cut, which required 11 stitches, would heal within the next three months. Despite coming from the rival network, Donaire is still hopeful that he could be the undercard in Pacquiao's Nov 23 bout which also has been moved from Nov 8 due to the concert of the American diva Celine Dion.