Nonito Donaire will be opposed by Jorge Arce next time he's in the ring. (Photos by Ethan Miller and Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Jorge Arce is, as expected, next in line to face new WBO super bantamweight titlist Nonito Donaire, according to manager Cameron Dunkin:
“Arce is next,” Cameron Dunkin told Philippine News’ Truth Esguerra. “We have an agreement already, and he’s got to fight Arce. And we have an agreement in principle with the Japanese guy (Nishioka), so he’s got fights ahead of him. After that we’ll look at [WBA champ Guillermo] Rigondeaux, of course.”
Arce (59-6-2, 45 KO) was the last man to hold the belt Donaire (28-1, 18 KO) won on Saturday night by defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, and also defeated Vazquez to win that title. Arce beat Vazquez by TKO-12 last May in a show-stealing fight on the Pacquiao vs Mosley show.
Donaire vs Arce has been in the works since last October, when the two sat together at the Nishioka vs Rafael Marquez fight in Las Vegas. Arce dropped the 122-pound belt in order to chase a title down at 118 pounds, which he won in November in a rematch with Angky Angkotta. The plan was always for Arce to come back up to 122 and fight the winner of Donaire vs Vazquez, so none of this is any surprise.
There is concern over Donaire's injured left hand, and Bob Arum isn't putting that out of his mind, but also says that Arce will be the next fight for the Filipino standout:
“Let’s see what happens with his hand first,” said Arum. “That will determine everything, but depending on the timing, we want him to face Arce next.”
There has been no official word yet as to the severity of Donaire's hand injury.
Arce is currently slated to rematch Lorenzo Parra on February 18 in Mexico.
0 recs | 22 comments
good action fight
the ref is gonna be stopping this one for arce’s own good
i’m thinking mayweather-gatti
nickfoxx - February 7, 2012
Yeah that’s always been the comparison in my head, too. Arce is so tailor-made for Donaire, but God knows Arce never shows up not ready to swing.
Scott Christ - February 7, 2012
+1
He’s tailor made for everybody but he fights them all the same way. Bloody.
pakinpower - February 7, 2012
I’m thinking that too, but it’s not a very thrilling prospect. Mayweather-Gatti was a VERY one sided beat down. Gatti had zero success in that fight.
But as Scott pointed out, it’s the perfect opportunity for Donaire to give an action-packed performance (knock an opponent out who doesn’t protect his head)!!!
Sammlung - February 7, 2012
If the Arce fight happens soon and is treated as a tune-up for a Nishioka fight later this year then I’m all for it. It’s when fights like this happen 8 months after one guy’s last fight and are hyped up as some sort of event that I have a problem.
ham_napkin - February 7, 2012
I like Jorge Arce, but I don’t like this fight. I don’t want to see him lose in a fight dubbed as a “tune-up”. Donaire is petrified of Rigondeaux, I don’t know why. Everytime his name comes up in an interview it sends shivers down his spine. Rigondeaux is good, but it’s already been proven that he’s not invincible against Cordoba.
Dafs - February 7, 2012
Nonito only wants to fight the BEST
Rigondeaux is not “the best”. Toshiaki Nishioka IS “The Man” at 122, the best resume and a master boxer. He just schooled a Mexican legend in Marquez. So excuse Nonito if he doesnt sound too excited about fighting a 9-0 fighter who won a belt against Rico Ramos.
dasilversurfer - February 7, 2012
Excuse me if I don’t think a three fight streak of Narvaez-Vazquez Jr.-Arce indicates that someone “only” wants to fight the best.
bachwards - February 7, 2012
It's much simpler than that
Arce will showcase Nonito’s talents. Rigo is no giant killer (by any stretch) but he does make opponents look awkward/bad.
Nonito needs a big action victory to continue his drive to sell his name to the levels that some think he can achieve. The fact is that no matter who he is matched with…he…still has to do his job.
pakinpower - February 7, 2012
Let me a add money to that equation
Nonito vs Rigo is NOT Donaire vs Arce.
pakinpower - February 7, 2012
Petrified? Shivers down his spine? Suuureee he is…………….Donaire has been talking about fighting Arce and Nishioka way before Rigo defeated the legendary Rico Ramos.
Rigondeaux can just do something in the meantime. I don’t know……..like defend his title.
DPlainview - February 7, 2012
In fairness Arum was talking up Rigondeaux as a future opponent early last year, but that plan has been put on the backburner ever since Donaire signed a new deal with Top Rank.
bachwards - February 8, 2012
I mean, yeah…Arce probably loses, but with how much I love him and how much I dislike Donaire…it’s a good fight to make me root like a motherfucker for Jorge.
Brent Brookhouse - February 7, 2012
just out of curiosity, why do u dislike nonito so much?
nickfoxx - February 7, 2012
Fun fight
Arce wins the walk-in. Donaire wins the fight.
I’ll be rooting for Travieso
PhinsAllDay - February 7, 2012
Get out the adrenalin and bandages. This one is gonna be bloody fun.
pakinpower - February 7, 2012
Donaire will walk through Arce
even if it is an evertaining fight.
I don’t have a problem with this fight too much, but considering that Donaire bypassed the top of the 118 division in Mares, Agbecko, or Moreno, and then Vasquez Jr. is his only fight at 122, which I understand because it was his first foray into the division, I expect his next opponent after Arce to be from the very top of the division. Maybe that’s unfair, but he is ranked in the top five of the p4p rankings and it’s not like Rigondeaux and Nishioka at least in public have expressed their willingness to face him.
rantcatrat - February 7, 2012
So what? So’s Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s probably gonna fight David Diaz next. So’s Sergio Martinez and he’s fighting Matthew Macklin after Darren Barker and Sergiy Dzinziruk.
Scott Christ - February 7, 2012
I mean for God’s sake, Manny Pacquiao all of two fights ago fought the withered remains of Shane Mosley, coming off a draw with Sergio Mora.
Scott Christ - February 7, 2012
The idea that the ATGs fought only the best is nostalgia at its most saccarhine.
No one fights every fight against the best. Nonito is being showcased to build his name, precisely what he demanded. He is ….as a byproduct of almost decapitating Montiel…also being held to an impossible standard. Most opponents will leave with their head still attached thinking they have won a victory. They will fight not to be destroyed. That will make Nonito’s standard almost impossible to maintain because beating the crap out of men whose principal goal is to survive looking okay is a near impossible task.
Arce will let him fight and would never consider just surviving. That will make for an entertaining night.
pakinpower - February 8, 2012
saccharine .... not saccerhine
pakinpower - February 8, 2012
donaire fought the top guy at 118
montiel was ranked top ten p4p (6 or 7 by ring) before he was almost decapitated last february
nickfoxx - February 7, 2012
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