Guardo wants Donaire to face either Arce or Montiel next

CEBU - Noted Cebuano businessman-sportsman Jonathan “Atan” L. Guardo has advised IBF/IBO flyweight crown-holder Nonito Donaire, Jr. to set aside first a rematch with Vic Darchinyan and instead entertain talks of a possible mega-fight against either one of the two best super flyweights out there - WBO champion Fernando Montiel or interim WBA titlist Jorge Arce.

“I would like Donaire to face next either Montiel or Arce. I think they’re two great fighters who can give Junjun (Donaire) one hell of a fight. Forget about the Darchinyan rematch. Donaire has nothing else to prove against Darchinyan because he has already beaten him decisively,” said Guardo.

Guardo, a two-time “Sportsman of the Year” awardee by Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC), is president of Uniherb Philippines, one of the country’s leading health companies of which Donaire has a six-fight contract as official endorser of Arthro.

“Even in the case of Manny Pacquiao, he did not yield to calls for an immediate rematch after he brutally destroyed Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003. Instead, he fought first the other marquee fighters in his division and that is a smart move I’d like Donaire to follow,” added the current president of the Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee (GCSOC) - a private organization actively involved in Cebu sports development.

After becoming the undisputed super flyweight champion of the world with a ninth round stoppage of Christian Mijares last Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, Darchinyan went vocal on his desire for a return bout with Donaire, even declaring he will beat Donaire a lot easier that what he did to Mijares.

On the very same day, Donaire pulled off a smashing six-round knockout of South African Moruti Mthalane      to retain his twin world titles at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Donaire snatched his IBF and IBO 112-pound crowns by dethroning the previously undefeated Darchinyan via an earth-shaking eight round TKO on July 7, 2007 at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Upong learning of Darchinyan’s challenge, Donaire, bold and daring as ever, countered that he is willing to face Darchinyan anew “anytime, anytime.” “Why would I be afraid of him (Darchinyan) when I already know how to beat him,” Donaire was quoted as saying by philboxing.com.

The Donaire-Darchinyan Part II though is a remote possibility for the time being as Gary Shaw himself, the promoter of Darchinyan Gary Shaw, have spoken that there is no chance for that fight to happen.

 “I have a little dogs that begs. That’s what Nonito will have to do if he wants a rematch. No chance,” said Shaw in an earlier report by doghouseboxing.com.

That is music to Guardo’s ears.

“Well, I’m happy to hear that. As one of his ardent supporters, I’m after of what is best for Donaire.

And in my understanding, the next best opponent for Donaire is Arce or Montiel. Either of them will surely make a blockbuster show if pitted against Donaire,” maintained Guardo, himself an avid boxing fan. (PR) (THE FREEMAN)