MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. and his handlers are not going to lose sleep over reports that Abner Mares has decided to move up to featherweight after failing to land a fight with the Filipino.
Donaire, the WBO super-bantamweight champion, is set to fight on April 13 in Las Vegas against either Vic Darchinyan or Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Of the two, it should be easier to make and sell the fight against Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion from Cuba and now WBA super-bantamweight champion.
Donaire and Rigondeaux are both under Top Rank while Mares is with Golden Boy.
Mares, according to www.boxingscene.com, will give up his WBC title in the 122 lb division so he could fight as a featherweight and pursue his dream of holding a world title in three different divisions.
“I’ve accomplished my dreams of winning titles at 118 and 122 pounds. I’m ready to fight as a featherweight,†said Mares, who can still end up fighting Donaire if the latter, sooner or later, moves up to 126 lb.
Bob Arum of Top Rank is also busy putting up “a big show in Macau†for WBO and WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria and China’s Zou Shiming.
Viloria will defend his titles against Juan Estrada while Shiming will make his pro debut after signing up with Top Rank a couple of weeks back.
Arum is excited about the 31-year-old Shiming, who as an amateur won world titles in the light-flyweight class in 2005, 2007 and 2011 as well as Olympic gold medals in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London.
“This guy is as famous as Yao Ming,†said Arum of the Chinese star who will train in the US under Freddie Roach and Miguel Diaz.
Arum, in a chat with 8countnews.com, described Shiming as “lightning fast†and like a “martial artist when he fights.â€