Title defense ni Donaire nakabinbin pa rin

Tila mananatili pa ring nakabitin ang ikalawang title defense ni world flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr.

Mula sa orihinal na Honda Center sa Anaheim, California, inilipat ng Top Rank Promotions ni Bob Arum ang laban ni Donaire kay South African challenger Moruti Mthalane sa Mandalay Resort and Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada sa Nobyembre 1.

Ito ay bunga na rin ng kabiguan ni Arum na plantsahin ang title defense ni world welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito kontra kay challenger Josh Clottey bilang main event.

Matatandaang matagumpay na naidepensa ng 25-anyos na si Donaire ang kanyang International Boxing Federation (IBF) at International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight belts nang talunin si Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado via ninth-round TKO noong Disyembre 1 ng 2007. 

“I haven’t been sparring or doing anything for almost a year and I want to shake all that off so when I get into the ring I’m going to do my best, give it all because that’s all I really know how to do,” ani Donaire, inagaw ang suot na IBF at IBO flyweight crowns ni Vic Darchinyan via fifth-round TKO noong Hulyo 7 ng 2007. 

Samantala, idinagdag naman ang pangalan ni dating super flyweight king Brian “The Hawiian Punch” Viloria sa boxing card ng Manny Pacquiao Promotions at ng Sycuan Ringside Promotions sa Setyembre 25 sa El Cajon, California.

Sasagupain ni Viloria, may 22-2-0 win-loss-draw ring re-cord kasama ang 13 KO’s, si Mexican Javier Lagos sa isang eight round super flyweight bout.

Nasa boxing card rin ng MP at Sycuan Ringside Pro-motions ang laban ni Bernabe Concepcion kay Mexican champion Giovanni Caro sa isang 10-round super ban-tamweight bout, ang upakan nina junior welterweight Dennis Laurente at Arturo Urena at salpukan nina lightweight Mercito Gesta at Alain “Conan” Hernandez. (Russell Cadayona)